HR Headliner: July 2023

Cal/OSHA Chief Jeff Killip: “Our team is out in full force, conducting targeted high heat inspections with a focus on construction, agriculture, landscaping, and warehouse industries to ensure employers are complying with the law.”

*Data from the National Weather Service.

With July’s arrival, we can look forward to months of hot weather in the Central Valley. The temperatures are up, and they aren’t falling any time soon.

If you have employees that work outdoors, you are subject to 8 CCR § 3395, Cal/OSHA’s outdoor heat illness prevention standard. This regulation requires employers to provide employees with water, shade, and rest.

It also requires employers to train employees and maintain a written heat illness prevention plan.

Water: Provide employees with water that is fresh, pure, suitable cool, and free of charge. This water should be located as close to employees as practicable. Encourage employees to drink water frequently – we may need up to two gallons per day.

Shade: Provide shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. There should be room for all employees.

Rest: Encourage employees to take cool-down rests as needed. They should rest for at least five minutes to protect themselves from overheating.

Even if you’ve lived in the Central Valley all your life, it takes our bodies time to adjust to working in high-heat conditions. During this period of acclimatization, employees must be closely observed for any signs of heat illness.

If your employees work indoors, you likely still have a responsibility to address high-heat conditions. While Cal/OSHA’s indoor heat illness prevention standard has not yet been approved, 8 CCR § 3203 – the same regulation that requires employers to maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program – also requires employers to assess and address workplace hazards. Cal/OSHA has already fined employers, under this regulation, for failing to address indoor heat.

We may even see an increase of this kind of enforcement, given federal OSHA’s National Emphasis Program from 2022 related to outdoor and indoor heat. In a news release from this week, Cal/OSHA Chief Jeff Killip said, “Our team is out in full force, conducting targeted high heat inspections with a focus on construction, agriculture, landscaping, and warehouse industries to ensure employers are complying with the law.”

It’s critical to think carefully about how you can protect your employees from heat illness. Contact Sierra HR Partners for help with your Heat Illness Prevention Program and heat illness prevention training.