OSHA Announces New Program for Reducing Heat-Related Injuries
In April of 2022, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a new initiative that aims to prevent heat-related injuries and illnesses. The program focuses on industries that are at high risk for heat-related injuries. This can include foundries, steel mills, oil rigs, and more.
National Emphasis Program for Outdoor & Indoor Heat-Related Hazards
The new program comes with two kinds of inspection protocols:
1. Programmed inspections– This will affect businesses within industries that are at risk of heat-related illness due to environmental factors. For instance, these industries include construction, farming, vehicle manufacturing plans, and more.
Businesses that fall under a programmed inspection include the following:
- Non-construction businesses listed in the Office of Statistical Analysis (OSA) ListGen application that are likely to experience heat-related hazards.
- Construction industries that are likely to experience heat-related hazards.
- Non-construction businesses that are not listed under the ListGen application but are still likely to experience heat-related hazards.
Programmed inspections will happen on days that the National Weather Service declares a heat advisory in the area in which the business location is.
2. Non-programmed inspections– This will affect any industry because it is triggered by reports instead of weather advisors. As a result, these inspections occur when a hazardous heat condition is recorded on an OSHA 300 log or 301 incident report. In addition, they will occur when an employee raises concerns about a heat-related hazard in the workplace. If this does come up, OSHA expects employers to have preventative measures in place to present during the inspection.
Inspection details
- When either of the inspections occur, OSHA inspectors will need to:
- Review OSHA 300 Logs and 301 Incident Reports for anything that may relate to heat.
- Review records of heat-related emergency room visits
- Interview current employees for signs related to heat injuries
Similarly, they are going to look that an established heat and illness prevention program exists that includes: 
- A written program
- Temperature and work exertion monitors
- Access to cool water
- Allotted time for water breaks
- Regularly scheduled breaks
- Shade access
- Acclimatization periods for returning or new employees
- Training on catching the signs of heat injuries/illnesses
With this new program, OSHA plans to double down on the number of heat-related inspections. Moreover, all OSHA regional offices must comply with these new protocols.
Compliance involves various moving parts and is a crucial part of operating a successful business. That is why we always recommend you speak with a trusted professional to ensure your organization is not missing anything necessary to meet any of the standards set on a federal and local level.
How can Payroll Systems help you with workforce management? We offer a combination of software and human support for your business. Contact us to learn more about our highly scalable HR and payroll solutions.
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This article provides general information and shouldn’t be construed as legal or HR advice. Since employment laws may change over time and can vary by location and industry, please consult a lawyer or HR expert for advice specific to your business. You can also contact Payroll Systems to inquire about our HR support services.