CALIFORNIA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS BOARD (a) Scope and Application. (1) This section applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present.
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.
You are free to leave at any time, and the employer is free to fire you if you do so. It's your choice. Now, you can complain to OSHA and they may investigate and rule that the heat is so bad that not having AC is an OSHA violation and even issue citations about it.
There is no maximum temperature for workplaces. However, all workers are entitled to an environment where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Heat is classed as a hazard and comes with legal obligations like any other hazard. Find out what you should do to protect workers in high temperatures.
The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App is a resource for finding the forecasted and current heat index near your location. The Heat App indicates the hazard levels using the HI as: Caution less than 80°F HI; • Warning 80°F to 94°F HI; and, • Danger at 95°F HI or higher.
For example, temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit are considered low risk for strenuous work, while temperatures between 70 and 77 degrees are considered moderately risky for strenuous work, and temperatures above 77 degrees are considered high risk.
Under California law, employers are responsible for ensuring a safe working environment for their employees, which includes protecting them from extreme heat. Employers who fail to take necessary precautions may be liable if a worker suffers a heat-related illness or injury.
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.
There is no legal maximum or minimum working temperature.
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.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home. If there are infants or elderly individuals, they recommend keeping the temperature at 70 degrees at a minimum.
OSHA does not require employers to provide heat or air conditioning for work spaces. OSHA does recommend temperature control in the range of 68-76°F.
Fever: A body temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) shows your body is fighting an infection. Rest, hydrate and let your body recover. “Stay home until you've been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medications,” Kadri said.
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.
The following states have standards for heat exposure: California. California's Heat Illness Prevention Standard requires employers to provide training, water, shade, and planning. A temperature of 80°F triggers the requirements.
OSHA defines hot work as: “work involving electric or gas welding, cutting, brazing or similar flame or spark-producing operations.” We should be concerned about hot work because: In our plants a spark invites disaster because of the tremendous potential for flammable vapors or gases to be present.
Wear a brimmed hat and loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Spend time in air-conditioned buildings during breaks and after work. Encourage co-workers to take breaks to cool off and drink water. Follow additional tips on how to prevent heat-related illness.
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 .
Strenuous work tasks and those requiring the use of heavy or non-breathable clothing or impermeable chemical protective clothing should not be conducted when the heat index is at or above 115°F.
Employees who work in traditional office environments have a lower risk of indoor heat exposure, and although there is no standard related to indoor office temperature, the OSHA technical manualopens in a new tab recommends employers maintain workplace temperatures in the range of 68-76 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity ...
CALIFORNIA OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS BOARD
Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment. (a) Scope and Application. (1) This section applies to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present.
There's no law for maximum working temperature, or when it's too hot to work, because every workplace is different. No meaningful upper limit can be imposed because in many indoor workplaces high temperatures are not seasonal but created by work activity, for example in bakeries or foundries.
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, and training.