OSHA Issues Extension for Comment on Heat Injury Standard

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a 30-day extension for submitting comments on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. The extension gives stakeholders until January 26, 2022, to review the ANPRM and collect information and data necessary for comment.

Submit comments, identified by Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009, electronically at www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. The Federal e-Rulemaking Portal is the only way to submit comments on this ANPRM.

Currently, OSHA does not have a heat-specific standard but has initiated several efforts to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and deaths. In addition to pursuing a heat-specific workplace rule, OSHA instituted a heat-related enforcement initiative and plans to issue a National Emphasis Program for heat-related safety efforts in 2022.