A California workplace safety oversight board adopted a new standard for indoor workplaces to enact safety measures when the temperature reaches 87°F.
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved an indoor heat standard that requires indoor workplaces to be cooled below 87°F if feasible when employees are present, and below 82°F if feasible in places where workers wear protective clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas.
Local and state correctional facilities as well as emergency operations directly involved in the protection of life or property are exempted from the proposed regulation. Cal/OSHA is in the process of developing an industry-specific regulation for local and state correctional facilities.
Cal/OSHA’s heat illness prevention regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses and manufacturing facilities. When the indoor temperature reaches 87°F, employers are required to take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, methods for cooling down the work areas under certain conditions and training.
Employers may be covered under both the indoor and outdoor regulations if they have both indoor and outdoor workplaces.
The board is a seven-member body appointed by the governor, and it is a standards-setting agency within the Cal/OSHA program.
The Office of Administrative Law has 30 working days to review and approve or deny the proposal. The board requested that the regulation take effect immediately after OAL approval.
Topics Commercial Lines Workers' Compensation Business Insurance
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