CAL/OSHA Update: CAL/OSHA Adopts New Indoor Heat Rule

08.01.2024

Cal/OSHA has been busy this year. Just weeks after employers had to implement the new Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, Cal/OSHA adopted a new Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Standard, which went into effect on July 23, 2024.

Contractors are familiar with the requirements to protect against outdoor heat illness. However, indoor heat illness has long been a problem in many areas which experience excessive heat and there was no regulation directly on point. The new standard addresses indoor heat hazards and closely mirrors the outdoor heat regulation, which includes providing a quart of water per hour, access to “cool-down” areas, emergency response, acclimation procedures and training. With some exceptions, it applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit when workers are present. The employer must implement additional heat control measures when the heat reaches 87 degrees. Indoor places of employment are defined as spaces which are under a ceiling or overhead covering and are enclosed along the perimeter by walls or doors or other physical barriers that restrict airflow, whether open or closed. The standard does not apply to outdoor working conditions that fall under Section 3395.

All covered employers should review the requirements and take the following steps:

Review employee access to water and cool-down areas, the need for, and process for acclimatization, and emergency response procedures;
Identify how to measure and document temperature and heat index records and what control measures to implement;
Draft a written indoor heat illness prevention plans (IHIPP); and
Prepare and conduct training for supervisors and employees.

Should you be experiencing déjà vu, need any assistance or have any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact any of the listed authors. Cal/OSHA also has resources published on its Indoor Heat Illness Prevention webpage (Indoor Heat Illness Prevention webpage).