e-Bulletin: Emergency Heat Stress Regulations Approved

On August 22, 2005, the Office of Administrative Law approved emergency regulations related to the prevention of heat stress illnesses and fatalities. The regulations are now in effect for 120 days, during which time Cal/OSHA will work with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency on adopting permanent regulations.

The emergency regulations were proposed in response to four recent deaths of California farm workers caused by intense summer heat. On August 2, 2005, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board made a Finding of Emergency regarding heat-related illness. The Finding stated that the occurrence of sustained extreme hot temperature conditions in the State during the month of July 2005 was accompanied by an unusual number of reports of occupational heat-related illnesses and deaths. Statistical information from the California Division of Workers' Compensation’s report on occupational injuries from heat-related illness (2000-2004) indicates that annually at least three hundred cases of heat-related illness are recorded by employers or are the subject of workers' compensation claims.

The emergency regulations accomplish the following:

• Require education of employees and supervisors likely to be exposed to heat stress on how to prevent heat illness and what to do should it occur;
• Re-state existing law that requires water to be available at all times and ensure workers understand the importance of frequent consumption of water; and
• Require that access to a shaded area is available to any worker suffering from heat illness or needing shade to prevent the onset of illness.

Prior to the emergency regulations, neither Cal/OSHA nor Federal OSHA standards specifically and comprehensively addressed the prevention of heat illness. While each agency has standards for drinking water and first aid, the proposed regulations directly address the dangers of heat-related illness. The emergency regulations have broad implications affecting all Californians who work outdoors including highway workers, farm workers, landscapers, construction workers, etc.