What is the indoor heat illness rule?

Author: Miss Althea Gulgowski IV  |  Last update: Saturday, September 6, 2025

For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, methods for cooling down the work areas under certain conditions, and training.

What temperature is legally too hot to work inside?

(1) This section applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present. EXCEPTIONS: (A) For indoor work areas not subject to any of the conditions listed in subsection (a)(2), the employer is not required to comply with subsection (e).

What is the indoor heat illness policy?

California's new “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” standard is now in effect as of July 23, 2024. The new regulation applies to most California workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F or higher (e.g., warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and restaurants).

What are the OSHA rules for indoor heat?

OSHA understands that a comfortable temperature for one person might be too hot or too cold for another. Because of this, they cannot designate one specific workplace temperature; however, OSHA does have some workplace temperature regulations, stating that employers set the thermostat between 68 and 78 degrees.

What is the protocol for heat-related illness?

Symptoms and first-aid measures for heat injuries
  • Move to a cool place and rest. Do not continue to participate in the activity.
  • Remove excess clothing and place cool cloths on skin; fan skin.
  • Give cool sports drinks containing salt and sugar.
  • Stretch cramped muscles slowly and gently.

What You Need to Know About the New Indoor Heat Illness Regulations & Workplace Violence Prevention

What is the new heat illness standard?

On July 2, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed rule on “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” The rule would apply to all employers and be triggered when employees are exposed to temperatures of 80ºF for more than fifteen minutes in any ...

What is the policy 1 of heat illness?

Specialist advice and guidance can be provided by medical staff and training staff. Policy Statement 1: A commander or manager must be appointed to command or supervise any activity where the risk of heat illness exists. Those taking part in an activity must know who the commander or manager is.

What is an unsafe indoor temperature?

Heat Index

Caution (80°F – 90°F HI); • Extreme Caution (91°F – 103°F HI); • Danger (103°F – 124°F HI); and, • Extreme Danger (126°F or higher HI).

Is it illegal to make employees work without air conditioning?

There is no law in CA mandating a workplace provide air conditioning. Under OSHA regulations, they state only that an employer must provide a safe workplace, but they too do not mandate air conditioning.

What is the 80% rule in OSHA?

Question: California regulations set the dosimeter threshold level at 80 dBA for hearing conservation and 90 dBA for compliance.

What is considered a heat-related illness?

Heat illness can be one or more of the following medical conditions including: heat rash, heat cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. The following symptoms are commonly associated with the different heat illness medical conditions.

What are three responsibilities employers have to protect workers from heat illness?

∎ At a minimum, employers should provide adequate cool water, rest breaks, and shade or a cool rest area for employees. ∎ Give new or returning employees the chance to gradually acclimatize (or become used to working in hot temperatures), to be trained and plan for emergencies, and to monitor for heat signs/symptoms.

Should I stay home if I have heat exhaustion?

Reduce your activities, and get plenty of rest. Your doctor will give you instructions on when you can resume your normal schedule. Stay in a cool room for at least the next 24 hours. Drink rehydration drinks, juices, and water to replace fluids.

Can you legally leave work if it's too hot?

While there are no specific federal regulations about working in extreme cold or heat, you do have a right to a workplace “free from recognized hazards .” That includes exposure to extreme cold and heat. Some states do have more rigorous rules regarding heat, and you can find the state plans here .

What temperature is too hot for humans inside?

They found that this upper-temperature limit lies between 40℃ (104F) and 50℃ (122F) when the human body stops functioning optimally. Further studies are needed to understand how this happens and offer insights as heatwaves and unusually warm temperatures continue to impact regions across the globe.

What is the OSHA indoor temperature regulation for 2024?

On July 23, 2024, the OAL granted Cal/OSHA's request, issuing its approval and making the regulation effective immediately. The new regulation takes effect whenever employees are present in any indoor working space and the temperature reaches 82°F or higher.

What indoor temperature is an OSHA violation?

According to the new standards, all indoor places of employment where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit or above must comply with regulations around access to water, cool-down areas, acclimatization, training, and more.

Can you sue for no air conditioning at work?

If you've gotten hurt because of heat exposure at work, you could have a legal claim for personal injury – especially if your employer knew about the hazard and did nothing to fix it. If you got fired because you reported unsafe conditions at work, you could have a claim for wrongful termination.

What temperature can you refuse to work in the US?

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration doesn't require employers to maintain specific temperatures in the workplace. The agency recognizes that a 75-degree Fahrenheit office might be comfortable for one employee, but intolerable for another.

What is the new OSHA rule for heat?

Indoor Heat Requirements

On June 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396, “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment”. This standard applies to most workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F.

What is too hot for inside a house?

In general, 80 degrees is too hot for a house if people are inside. However, if people aren't home during the day or for vacation during the summer, an indoor temperature of 80 degrees can save energy until you return and lower the temperature.

Should you skip meals while working in the heat?

Instead, experts recommend eating lighter meals more frequently throughout the day and focusing on hydrating foods that can be easier to digest, such as cucumber and watermelon. “That is going to make people have more energy and not feel as fatigued during the heat,” Sorensen said. Consume too much caffeine.

How can employers protect employees from heat-related illnesses?

Engineering controls such as air conditioning, with cooled air, and increased air flow, leading to increased evaporative cooling, can make the workplace safer. Other options for keeping body temperatures down in warm environments include making changes to workload and schedules.

What are the first signs of heat exhaustion?

The signs of heat exhaustion include:
  • tiredness.
  • dizziness.
  • headache.
  • feeling sick or being sick.
  • excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy or getting a heat rash, but a change in skin colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin.
  • cramps in the arms, legs and stomach.
  • fast breathing or heartbeat.

What temperature does heat illness start?

The main symptom of heat exhaustion is a body temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) to 104°F (40°C). Some symptoms may be warning signs that heat exhaustion is about to happen.

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