While speculation was that the standard would not go into effect until sometime between August and October of this year, Cal/OSHA asked the OAL to expedite approval so the new rules would be effective as soon as possible.
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Who Does the Indoor Heat Illness Standard Apply To?
To recap, the standard applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82° Fahrenheit when employees are present. This regulation is aimed at workplaces like warehouses, restaurant kitchens, and manufacturing plants. Indoor workspaces where the temperature never exceeds 82° F, like office environments with functioning air conditioning, will not need to worry about this if the temperature never exceeds 82° F when employees are present.
Are There Any Exceptions?
The new standard does not apply to outdoor working conditions since these are already regulated by their own Heat Illness Prevention Standard. The new regulation did name some narrow exceptions including:
Prisons, local detention facilities and juvenile facilities
Teleworking employees where the location is not under the control of the employer
Emergency operations directly involved in the protection of life or property
Incidental heat exposure where a worker is exposed to temperatures between 82 and 95° F for less than 15 minutes in any 60-minute period. This exception does not apply to vehicles without working air conditions or shipping or intermodal containers during loading, unloading or related work.
What Must Employers do to Comply?
Employers must develop, document (put in writing) and implement procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard. In order to be complaint a Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) must include:
Water
Cool-Down Areas & Breaks
Emergency Response Procedures
Acclimatization Methods
When additional risk factors are present, such as when the temperature reaches or exceeds 82° F when employees are wearing restrictive clothing or working in high radiant areas (ovens, fire, etc.), or anytime the temperature reaches or exceeds 87° F, employers must also implement
Monitoring & Controls.
Read the full article on CEA's blog for more details >
