OSHA Advisory Panel Issues Report on Heat Stress

On May 31^st, OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety & Health met to consider a number of occupational safety issues, including heat stress.  As part of the meeting, the committee voted 10-0 to approve a report which outlines topics future employee heat rules should cover, and how to effectively establish them.  The committee made clear this was not a new regulation or meant to be regulatory language.  Instead, the intention of approving the report was to impact how goals are set, and encourage employers to create a written heat exposure plan to assist workers in recognizing and mitigating heat exposure and heat stress.  This includes measures to protect workers from heat exposure such as rest breaks, protective clothing, places to cool down, and drinking water.  OSHA has found that due to a lack of a specific heat stress rule, instances have occurred where employers have failed to protect workers from hot conditions.  OSHA is currently going through the rulemaking process for a Heat Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings rule (RIN:1218-AD39).  It important to note that OSHA continues to conduct inspections under its heat emphasis program.