In 2005, California became the first state in the nation to develop safety and health regulations addressing heat illness. Since that time, Cal/OSHA has issued permanent heat illness prevention regulations protecting employees who work outdoors. Enforcement of the heat illness prevention standards continues to be a priority; as a result proposals for emergency amendments were submitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for adoption. Although these emergency amendments were not adopted Cal/OSHA has moved forward by submitting amendments through the standard rule making process.
Cal/OSHA Chief Ken Welsh states “Our efforts to strengthen the heat illness prevention regulations will continue until we obtain the clarity needed to promote the most effective compliance with the standard. These proposed amendments will provide greater protection for outdoor workers and address questions raised among some employers about how to comply with the standard.”
Visit Cal/OSHA at www.dir.ca.gov/heatillness for additional information on heat illness prevention publications, training materials, and seminar dates and locations.