Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect workers from heat illness at outdoor and indoor workplaces as heat waves are forecast across California this week.
As California experiences more frequent and severe weather patterns, heat events are extending earlier into the year. Employers must remain vigilant in protecting workers and be prepared for any increase in temperatures.
The National Weather Service has issued multiple heat advisories across the state through Friday evening. Temperatures ranging from the mid-80s and mid-to-high 90s are forecast in the Bay Area and Central Coast, and in coastal areas and foothill locations of Southwest California including Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo; while temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit are forecast in the San Diego area; and temperatures up to 102 degrees are expected in San Bernardino, Riverside and the Inland Empire.
Heat illness is a serious and potentially deadly hazard. Under Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Standards, employers are legally required to implement protective measures for outdoor and indoor workers. Employers may be covered under both the indoor and outdoor regulations if they have workers in each setting. See the Comparison Chart of Indoor and Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention Standards for more information.
Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, and training.
To prevent heat illness at outdoor worksites, the law requires employers to provide outdoor workers fresh water, access to shade (which must be in place when temperatures are 80 degrees or higher) and, whenever requested by a worker, cool-down rest breaks in addition to regular breaks. In certain industries, when the temperature at outdoor worksites reaches or exceeds 95 degrees, Cal/OSHA’s standard requires additional protections. The industries with additional high-heat requirements include agriculture and transportation of agricultural products. High-heat procedures include ensuring employees are observed regularly for signs of heat illness and establishing effective communication methods.
Employers in both settings must also maintain a written prevention plan with effective training for supervisors to recognize the common signs and symptoms of heat illness, and what to do in case of an emergency.