OSHA’s 2022 National Emphasis Program Heat-Related Hazards


OSHA will increase compliance outreach efforts on heat priority days in 70 industries including construction and non-construction employers and both outdoor and indoor workplaces. These are defined as days when the heat index (a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature) is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

This approach is intended to encourage early interventions by employers to prevent illnesses and deaths among workers during high heat conditions, such as working outdoors in a local area experiencing a heatwave.

Certified Safety and Health Officials will document the heat index and additional weather data from that day, such as gathering heat alerts from the NWS and data from the OSHA-National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOSH) and saving a screenshot of the current weather and temperature conditions on a mobile phone or tablet.

The information they will gather includes wind speed, relative humidity, a dry-bulb temperature reading at the workplace and in the shaded rest area, a wet-bulb globe temperature reading, note cloud cover, and identify activities that may be related to heat-related hazards.

CSHOs will characterize job tasks performed by employees as moderate, heavy, or very heavy work, considering both average workload and peak workload and the duration of exposure during which a worker continuously or repeatedly performs moderate to strenuous activities to determine overall workload exertion.

For assistance with creating/updating plans and training or resources to protect workers from developing heat-related illnesses, please contact Michele A. Mathews, our Safety Management Specialist (SMS), American Red Cross Authorized Trainer, and OSHA Authorized Trainer at 813-475-5404 or Michele@mathewshrconsulting.com.