DOL’s Heat Illness Prevention Update

Currently, OSHA has begun a dialogue and engaged with stakeholders to explore the potential for a rulemaking on heat.  Additionally, OSHA is seeking additional stakeholder feedback through the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group, which is charged with evaluating and providing input and recommendations on OSHA’s heat illness prevention materials.  The group is also critically evaluating stakeholder input to the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Rule developing key recommendations on potential elements of heat injury and illness prevention rulemaking that OSHA should consider.  Finally, in April, OSHA issued the National Emphasis Program (NEP) Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, which establishes OSHA’s targeted enforcement and its compliance assistance and outreach efforts. Under the NEP, OSHA will conduct inspections when the National Weather Service has announced a heat warning or advisory in an area and will target high-risk workplaces for these inspections, such as construction sites.