OSHA updates it heat hazards program
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its National Emphasis Program that protects workers from outdoor and indoor heat. By analyzing the labor statistics data from 2022 to 2025, OSHA has identified industries with high rates of heat-related illness and industries.
Heat illness remains a serious hazard for indoor and outdoor workers, leading to preventable injuries and fatalities every year. Ensuring that employers take the steps needed to safeguard workers is essential, and this updated program allows OSHA to better focus on outreach, compliance assistance and enforcement efforts in high-risk industries and promote effective prevention practices.
The revised emphasis program removes outdated background information, updates links and eliminates the former numerical inspection goal. It introduces two reorganized appendices, one for evaluating heat programs and another for citation guidance. The update also includes clearer guidance that will improve tracking and more effectively implement the program's enforcement and outreach efforts. The revised program is effective immediately and will be in place for five years.
For more information, read the updated National Emphasis Program – Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards. Through the new program OSHA has also provided information to learn more about preventing heat illness.
Jonathan Flannery, MHSA, CHFM, FASHE, FACHE, is senior associate director for ASHE Regulatory Affairs.
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