Use the pre-written templates to easily create and store your safety plans, including one for heat injury and illness prevention.
Heat Illness & Heat Stress
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Millions of workers nationwide are exposed to heat during their workday, whether they work indoors or out. Heat illness can occur when the heat index is as low as 80° F or less. Risk factors like heavy physical activity, high humidity, excessive heat, lack of acclimatization, and wearing clothing that holds in body heat increase the chance of a heat-related illness.
Although OSHA does not have a heat standard, employees are protected under its General Duty Clause, and several states have specific laws governing occupational heat exposure.
The J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE offers a range of tools to help you develop and maintain an effective heat illness prevention program.
PREVENTING HEAT ILLNESS IS EASIER WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS
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Conduct Heat Illness Prevention Training
ACCESS FREE SAFETY TRAINING >>Give your employees critical heat illness prevention information via online courses, PowerPoint® presentations, and videos.
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Track Heat-Related Incidents
GET FREE TRACKING >>Document and track heat-related illnesses and incidents with our free tracking tool. Spot trends and auto-generate OSHA recordkeeping forms.
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Get Easy-to-understand Guidance
ACCESS COMPLIANCE INFORMATION >>Access a wealth of plain-English information on heat stress, including answers to FAQs, state requirements, and OSHA's proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule — within the Reference Hub.
Take Your Safety Program to the Next Level
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Frequently asked questions about Heat Illness
Yes, heat illness cases must be recorded on OSHA Logs if they meet OSHA’s recordkeeping criteria. In general, a heat stress case is recordable when it involves medical treatment beyond first aid, work restrictions, days away from work, or loss of consciousness.
Yes. OSHA can cite employers for heat-related hazards, including under its National Emphasis Program (NEP) and the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act). OSHA inspections may evaluate workplace heat hazards, employer heat illness prevention efforts, and employee exposure to excessive heat.
To comply with heat illness prevention requirements, an employer must develop, document, and implement a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP). The plan must include procedures for water, shade, high-heat conditions, emergency response, and acclimatization, and employees and supervisors must be trained on how to follow it.
Environmental risk factors for heat illness include conditions such as high temperatures, humidity, limited air movement, and heat exposure from the sun or other sources. Work-related factors, including workload demands and the use of protective clothing or PPE, can also increase the risk.
Employers have a duty to protect workers from environmental heat stressors by monitoring workers during periods of high heat and mitigating exposures whenever possible.
