With the first day of summer right around the corner, it’s the perfect time for California employers to review Cal/OSHA’s heat illness prevention standards. Whether your teams work outdoors under the sun or indoors in high-heat environments, understanding your responsibilities is essential to protecting employees and maintaining compliance.
This is a critical time to ensure your workplace is prepared.
Outdoor Workplaces – Cal/OSHA Regulation CCR Title 8, Section 3395
Employers with outdoor operations must follow Cal/OSHA’s outdoor heat illness prevention regulation. Key requirements include:
- Water: Provide at least one quart of cool, clean drinking water per employee per hour.
- Shade: Offer accessible shade when temperatures exceed 80°F. At 95°F, additional cool-down rest periods are required.
- Training: Employees and supervisors must be trained on heat illness symptoms, prevention, and emergency procedures.
- High-Heat Procedures: Special protocols must be in place for work at or above 95°F.
- Written Plan: Maintain a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) specific to outdoor work, accessible in English and any other applicable languages.
Indoor Workplaces – Cal/OSHA Regulation CCR Title 8, Section 3396
New requirements for indoor workplaces took effect July 1, 2024, and apply when indoor temperatures reach or exceed:
- 82°F in spaces with radiant heat sources or when employees wear heat-retaining clothing.
- 87°F in all other indoor work settings.
Employers must:
- Monitor indoor temperature or heat index.
- Provide designated cool-down areas.
- Implement feasible engineering or administrative controls.
- Train employees and supervisors.
- Maintain a written Indoor HIPP reflecting indoor-specific conditions and procedures.
Take Action Now
Employers should take time before the summer season begins to ensure they are meeting Cal/OSHA’s requirements. Written plans must be tailored to your worksite, and training should be clear, accessible, and compliant.
Need Support Understanding the Rules?
If you’re unsure how these rules apply to your workplace or need help navigating Cal/OSHA’s heat illness prevention standard, HRDelivered is here to help. Reach out to your dedicated HR Consultant for guidance. Now is the time to get ahead of compliance and ensure your employees are protected as summer approaches.
You can access the full set of employer resources and legal standards at:
www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/heatillnessinfo.html