On Aug. 30, the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) announced that the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule had been published in the Federal Register.

OSHA encourages the public to submit comments to the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rulemaking docket. The comment period is open until Dec. 30, 2024.

GCSAA is in the process of reviewing the official rule and will provide more information online during  the month of September. GCSAA will weigh in with public comment on the rule before the Dec. 30 deadline.

• The proposed rule would require employers with more than 10 employees to develop and implement a worksite heat injury and illness prevention plan (HIIPP) when workers are or can be expected to be exposed to a heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit — referred to as the “initial heat trigger” — or higher.
  
• Under the HIIPP, workers exposed to these temperatures would have to be provided access to drinking water and break areas with either artificial and/or natural shade and air conditioning.
  
• Employers would also be required to implement acclimatization plans for new or returning employees who haven’t yet adjusted to the heat, such as with gradual increases in workload or 15-minute rest breaks every two hours.
  
• The proposed rule specifies that employers must seek the input and involvement of non-managerial employees and their representatives, if any, in the development and implementation of the HIIPP.
  
• Employers would be required to monitor heat conditions at outdoor work areas either by tracking local heat index forecasts provided by the National Weather Service or other reputable sources, or measuring the heat index or a wet bulb globe temperature. 
  
• The proposed rule outlines several methods used to observe workers for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness that employers must implement.

For more information, visit: https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking.