The Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses and manufacturing facilities where temperatures commonly reach and exceed 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Employers should keep in mind, however, that it is not uncommon for workplaces to lose power, disabling the office air conditioning units. Depending on the length of the power outage, the office temperature could rise to 82 degrees or more. Therefore, your Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should include a note to have emergency contingencies for the office staff. The indoor heat illness prevention requirements can also be maintained as a separate document or amendment to the IIPP.
Where the indoor heat illness regulation applies, copious amounts of water must be made available — a minimum of one quart per hour per exposed employee.
Moreover, the temperature or heat index, whichever is greater, must be recorded and maintained. The record should include the time, date and location of the measurement, and all other environmental risk factors relating to heat illness should be noted.
The regulation also addresses emergency procedures in the event of an incident, emergency contact information and supervisor protocol if an incident is in progress or there is concern that an employee may be experiencing heat-related problems.
Also, if the temperature reaches 87 degrees, then additional requirements are introduced, such as cooling down the work area, work rest schedules and other mandates. Training of the supervisors and employees is stressed.
In some situations, the regulation’s requirements do not apply, such as when a worker is exposed to temperatures below 95 degrees for 15 minutes within a 1-hour period or for employees teleworking from a location of the employees’ choice not under the control of the employer.
Read more about Outdoor Workplaces vs. Indoor Workplaces in the HR Library.
