Public comment period ends for OSHA heat hazard rulemaking

On October 27, OSHA published an “Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” OSHA did not have a prior specific hazardous heat conditions standard.

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initiated a public comment period to gather stakeholder perspectives and expertise on heat-stress thresholds, heat-acclimatization planning and exposure monitoring. This period ended on December 27.

Heat has been identified consistently as the leading cause of death among weather-related workplace hazards. OSHA previously implemented its nationwide enforcement initiative on heat-related hazards and is now forming a National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group.