OSHA is taking steps now to help companies reduce heat illness.

Thanks to the ongoing effects of climate change, 18 of the last 19 summers have been the hottest on record. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that between 2015 and 2019, environmental heat cases resulted in an average of 35 fatalities per year and an average of 2,700 cases that resulted in days away from work.

However, the total number of heat-related fatalities may be underreported and improperly diagnosed. The cause of death is often listed as a heart attack when the actual cause or aggravating cause may have been exposure to a heat-related hazard. Heat-related illnesses range from heat cramps to heat stroke, which can potentially lead to death. To protect workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries, OSHA announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) on April 12, 2022.

Let’s look at what this news means for your business and what your next steps should be.

OSHA Can Conduct Inspections on 80 degrees Fahrenheit+  Heat Index Days

OSHA is focusing on reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards that result in on-the-job illness, injury and death. The NEP consists of targeted inspections, outreach and compliance assistance. 

The NEP authorizes OSHA to conduct pre-planned inspections of high-risk worksites on “heat priority days” where the heat index—of “feel like” temperature—is expected to be 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. 

Here are a few scenarios where OSHA could and would likely inspect for heat stress.

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