OSHA Program Focuses on Indoor, Outdoor Heat Hazards

Thursday, April 14, 2022 | 0

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a National Emphasis Program aiming to conduct more heat-related workplace inspections to protect workers from injuries or fatalities, which the agency says have doubled since the 1990s.

OSHA said in a statement Tuesday that the National Emphasis Program is a way to “immediately improve enforcement and compliance efforts while continuing long-term work to establish a heat illness prevention rule.”

As part of the program, OSHA will initiate inspections in more than 70 high-risk industries in indoor and outdoor work settings when the National Weather Service has issued a heat warning or advisory for a local area. On days when the heat index is 80 degrees or higher, OSHA inspectors and compliance assistance specialists will engage in proactive outreach and technical assistance.

OSHA said inspectors will look for and address heat hazards, regardless of whether the industry is targeted in the emphasis program.

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