Cal/OSHA recently established a new set of rules in response to the growing number of heat-related worker injuries and fatalities: Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment. These rules will impact many California industries, especially manufacturing. Businesses affected by the new Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention standards will be required to develop written heat illness prevention plans, adhere to certain workplace requirements, and train workers on the dangers of heat illness.
To help California manufacturers better understand and comply with these rules, we’ll explain the following in this blog:
To start, you should understand where this rule came from and when it took effect…
On June 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 3396, “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment.” The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) then had 30 working days to review the proposal. On July 23, 2024, the standard was approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and immediately went into effect. Before this, California had existing heat illness regulations, passed in 2016, that only pertained to outdoor workers. The text of that bill required Cal/OSHA to eventually create rules for indoor workers as well. After several years of delays, those rules have been adopted and are now in effect.
The new standards apply to any business under the jurisdiction of Cal/OSHA. However, the rules will only be relevant for indoor workplaces with temperatures above 82°F.
Businesses that may face the most demanding adjustment periods include:
*Previous outdoor heat regulations remain unchanged
Cal/OSHA has defined a few exceptions to the new indoor workplace heat illness prevention rules. These include...
Employers are not responsible for heat-related illness for workers who work from a location of their choice, including those who work from home.
The new Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention standards also don’t apply to incidental heat exposures. Incidental heat exposures refer to exposure to temperatures at or above 82°F and below 95°F for less than 15 minutes in any 60 minutes.
This exception does not apply to vehicles without effective air conditioning or shipping or intermodal containers during loading, unloading, or related work.
For affected industries, if and when your workplace temperature rises above 82°F, the following requirements must be met…
Workers must have access to at least one cooldown area kept below 82°F. This area also needs to be:
Supervisors need to be trained on how to check weather reports and respond to hot weather advisories for indoor workplaces that are affected by outdoor temperatures.
Employers must be able to measure both temperature and heat index and record whenever either one reaches 87°F.
Businesses must also implement control measures to keep workers safe. According to the regulations, “feasible engineering controls must be implemented first.”
Employers must provide first aid or emergency response to any worker showing symptoms of heat illness, which may include contacting emergency medical services.
Employers must also provide training to both workers and supervisors on:
Supervisors specifically must also be trained on the following:
Additionally, employers must closely observe new workers working in hot areas over a 14-day acclimatization period.
Finally, every business affected by the regulation must establish, implement, and maintain “an effective written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan.” This plan must be written in both English as well as the language most employees understand. The plan must be made available to employees and representatives of Cal/OSHA upon request.
At a minimum, the plan must include procedures for:
Navigating California’s many ever-changing regulations can be challenging, but CMTC is here to help. Our team of experts is well-versed in the latest regulations and can assist California manufacturers in developing effective strategies to achieve compliance. From assessing current practices to implementing tailored safety measures, CMTC provides the support needed to ensure that your workplace meets the new standards while safeguarding employee well-being. Reach out to us today for guidance and resources to streamline your compliance process and maintain a safe, productive work environment!