Overview of the United States OSHA's Proposed Rule on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention
FROM THE OSHA PROPOSED RULE FACT SHEET
“Why a Standard is Needed:
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. Excessive heat in the workplace can cause a number of adverse health effects, including heat stroke and even death, if not treated properly. While heat hazards impact workers in many industries, workers of color have a higher likelihood of working in jobs with hazardous heat exposure. OSHA is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, a significant step toward a federal heat standard, which proposes protective measures that the agency has preliminarily determined would significantly reduce heat-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the workplace. An unofficial version is now available for viewing at www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking. The official version will be published in the Federal Register soon and there will be a public comment period for stakeholders to submit comments to OSHA on the proposed standard.”