Indoor heat rule now in effect in California

Sacramento, CA — Most workplaces in California must now adopt a number of worker safety measures when indoor temperatures hit specific levels.

Effective immediately, the Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standard was approved July 23 by the state’s Office of Administrative Law. It applies to indoor workplaces – including restaurants, manufacturing facilities and warehouses – where the temperature is 82° F or hotter. Some exceptions apply, including for emergency responders who are protecting life or property and remote employees who are working from a location of their choice.

Steps employers covered under the rule must take include providing water, rest, cool-down areas and training, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health says in a press release.

Additional measures must be taken when the indoor temperature reaches 87° F. They include cooling down the work area, implementing work-rest schedules and providing personal heat-protective equipment. However, those measures must be implemented at 82° F when employees wear clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas.

Cal/OSHA notes that both of its indoor and outdoor heat standards may apply to some employers with both kinds of work settings. The agency has published online a comparison chart for employers to evaluate the similarities and differences between the two regulations.

Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said the new rule “provides protections for workers across California and helps prepare employers to deal with the challenges of rising temperatures in indoor environments.”

Lee encourages employers to use Cal/OSHA’s online tools, including the Heat Illness Prevention Guidance and Resources webpage. It provides tips and best practices in both English and Spanish. The agency also offers a Heat Illness Prevention e-tool for workers in outdoor settings.