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OSHA has been working a proposed standard for indoor and outdoor heat illness since 2021. This month the proposed standard has been sent to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review.
While the language of the proposed standard has not be released, the rule is expected to include temperatures that trigger requirements under the rule such as mandatory rest breaks. OSHA has previously stated the rules to protect workers from heat illness would be followed after the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
After OIRA reviews the rule, OSHA will publish the standard in the Federal Register. At that point, employers and others will be able to submit comments to the rule.
OSHA Heat Standard Heads to White House for Review
OSHA has been working a proposed standard for indoor and outdoor heat illness since 2021. This month the proposed standard has been sent to the White
- Advertisement -
Had to dig to find this, but the 80F refers to Wet Bulb Global Temperature, not air temperature or the traditional heat index. It’s hard to do a direct conversion because WBGT takes in additional factors like solar radiation, but an 80F WBGT would be well into triple digit heat index.
Also for additional info and why the WBGT matters for outside workers, once the WBGT reaches 95F sweat can’t cool the body down and a person, no matter how good of physical condition they’re in, has to get to air conditioning or they will die.
Don’t put too much stock into OSHA doing anything for you. Our LLVs are still going to be 120+ degrees inside during July and August and management will still want everything delivered before you return to the office.
Air conditioning has only been commonplace for about 100 years or so and in autos its been commonplace since the 1960s. How did human beings find the will to go on pre-air conditioning? Man-up, stay hydrated, take a break when you can and you’ll somehow find the will to survive.
Not all but in most cases of heat related illness its because people did not take proper precautions for the heat. My route is in the Phoenix area so I know what it’s like to deliver mail in 100+ temperatures every day for about 4 straight months in the summer.
I’ve never had a heat related problem because I take the steps to be prepared.