High Heat Alert: Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers to Protect Workers from High Heat
Editor’s Note: Farm Employers Labor Service provides resources to assist employers’ compliance with the Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) Standard at Employer Resources from FELS: Heat Illness Prevention, and from our Group Legal Service Program partner firm Barsamian & Moody, Another Heat Wave for Agricultural Employers, Make Sure to SWEAT.
Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect workers from heat illness as high temperatures are forecast across California.
Temperatures this week are expected to reach up to 114°F today through Thursday, peaking in the following areas:
| San Fernando Valley: 108 °F | Santa Barbara County: 100°F |
| San Joaquin Valley: 106°F | San Francisco Bay Area: 108°F |
| Coachella Valley: 114°F | Imperial County: 113°F |
| San Luis Obispo / Salinas: 104°F | Los Angeles: 108°F |
| San Bernardino: 112°F | Sacramento: 106°F |
| Santa Monica: 97°F | Palm Springs: 114°F |
When working in hotter conditions, workers must be closely observed for any signs of heat illness.
Employers in California must take steps to protect outdoor workers from heat illness by providing water, rest, shade and training.
Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities where temperatures can get high.
For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, methods for cooling down the work areas under certain conditions, and training.
In certain industries, when the temperature at outdoor worksites reaches or exceeds 95 degrees, Cal/OSHA’s standard requires additional protections. The industries with additional high-heat requirements are agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and transportation of agricultural products, construction materials or other heavy materials. High-heat procedures include ensuring employees are observed regularly for signs of heat illness and establishing effective communication methods so workers can contact a supervisor when needed.
Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention special emphasis program includes enforcement of the heat regulation as well as multilingual outreach and training programs for California’s employers and workers. Details on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are available online on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page and the 99calor.org informational website. A Heat Illness Prevention online tool is also available on Cal/OSHA’s website.
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.
Workers who have questions about heat illness prevention in indoor and outdoor places of employment can call 833-579-0927 to speak with a bilingual Cal/OSHA representative Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.
Cal/OSHA has established the Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) Network, a voluntary partnership aimed at increasing awareness among employers and workers about the importance of preventing heat illness in California and the importance of taking steps to prevent work-related illnesses and fatalities. To join the HIP Network, email HIPNetwork@dir.ca.gov.
