Starting August 1, 2024, California employers must comply with a new Cal/OSHA indoor heat illness prevention rule. This regulation is triggered when indoor temperatures reach or exceed 82° F. When temperatures hit 87° F, employers must implement measures such as cooling fans or air conditioning to reduce temperatures below 87° F. Additionally, employers are required to provide at least one quart of cool drinking water per hour for each worker throughout their shift.
Employers are also required to maintain a cool down area that is shielded from direct sunlight and high-radiant heat sources, with ventilation or cooling, and is sufficient to accommodate all employees during recovery, rest, or meal periods. To ensure worker safety, new employees must be acclimatized to the heat.
The rule mandates that employers develop a written heat illness prevention plan. This plan should outline procedures for providing adequate water, access to cool down areas, methods for measuring and recording temperature and heat index, identifying and evaluating environmental risk factors, implementing control measures, emergency response protocols, and acclimatization schedules for new employees.
Note that the rule does not apply to incidental heat exposures where an employee is exposed to temperatures at or above 82° F and below 95° F for less than 15 minutes in any 60-minute period.
