California Indoor Worker Heat Protections OK’d and in Effect

California’s indoor heat protections were approved and went into effect this week.

The rules apply to most indoor workplaces. Employers are required to adopt safety measures that go into effect in most cases when indoor temperatures reach 82°F to prevent the risk of heat illness to workers.

The rules were approved this week by the Office of Administrative.

Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas and training.

Additional requirements, where feasible, apply when the temperature reaches 87 degrees such as cooling down the work area, implementing work-rest schedules and providing personal heat-protective equipment. Where workers wear clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas, the additional requirements apply at 82 degrees.

The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board in June approved California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396 “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” and requested that the regulation take effect immediately after OAL approval.

Employers may be covered under both the indoor and outdoor regulations if they have both indoor and outdoor workplaces. Local and state correctional facilities as well as emergency operations involved in the protection of life or property are exempted from the regulation for indoor heat.

Topics California Oklahoma