Comments Sought on Upcoming Legislation to Protect Workers From Heat

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is one step closer to implementing a new enforcement initiative that would protect workers from extreme heat both indoors and outside. 

Yesterday, OSHA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. Currently, OSHA does not have a specific standard for hazardous heat conditions and this action begins the process to consider a heat-specific workplace rule.

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will initiate a comment period to gather diverse perspectives and expertise on topics related to extreme heat, such as heat-stress thresholds, heat-acclimatization planning, and exposure monitoring. Those who would like to contribute their input can submit comments at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, and refer to Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009. All comments must be submitted by December 27, 2021.

“While heat illness is largely preventable and commonly underreported, thousands of workers are sickened each year by workplace heat exposure, and in some cases, heat exposure can be fatal,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. “The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings is an important part of our multi-pronged initiative to protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat.”