LEARN MORE about the OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Heat Hazards
LEARN MORE about the OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Heat Hazards
OSHA is launching a targeted program to protect workers across the nation from the increasing threat of heat-related illness.
What is the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on heat?
• The NEP creates, for the first time, a nationwide enforcement mechanism that allows OSHA to proactively inspect workplaces for heat-related hazards. This will function in general industry, maritime, construction and agriculture operations and respond to charges of hazardous exposures to both outdoors and indoors heat. This means that OSHA can now launch heat-related inspections on high-risk worksites before workers suffer preventable injuries, illnesses or fatalities.
• The NEP encourages employers to protect workers from heat hazards by providing employee access to water, rest, shade and adequate training. It also encourages employers to implement acclimatization procedures for new or returning employees and contains both enforcement and outreach/compliance assistance components to ensure that the program’s goals are achieved.
• The NEP establishes heat priority days when the heat index is expected to be 80°F or higher. On heat priority days OSHA will initiate compliance assistance in the targeted high-risk industries. OSHA will also continue to inspect any alleged heat-related fatality/catastrophe complaint or referral regardless of whether the worksite falls within a targeted industry of this NEP.
• OSHA will conduct programmed (pre-planned) inspections in targeted high-risk industries on any day that the National Weather Service has announced a heat warning or advisory for the local area. During inspections compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) will review records about heat-related illnesses/ER visits/ambulance transports, interview workers for symptoms of heat-related illnesses, review employer plans for addressing heat exposure and associated training records and identify all conditions and activities relevant to heat-related hazards.
• OSHA also recognizes that many businesses want to do the right thing by developing heat illness prevention plans to keep their employees safe. On heat priority days, OSHA field staff will engage in proactive outreach and technical/compliance assistance to help keep workers safe on the job.
Impacted Industries
The NEP targets over 70 high-risk industries (primarily in construction and manufacturing) based on:
• Bureau of Labor Statistics data on incidence rates of heat-related illnesses and number of employee days away from work
• Elevated numbers of fatalities or hospitalizations reported by employers to OSHA and highest number of heat-related general-duty clause 5(a)(1) violations and Hazard Alert Letters over a 5-year period (1/1/2017 through 12/31/2021) or highest number of OSHA heat inspections since 2017.
Why is the NEP necessary?
• The danger of extreme heat increases each year due to continuing effects of climate change. Specifically, 18 of the last 19 summers were the hottest on record.
• Workers suffer over 3,500 injuries and illnesses related to heat each year.
What are the time frames?
The NEP became effective starting on April 8, 2022, and will remain in effect for three years unless canceled or extended by a superseding directive.
For more information go to https://www.osha.gov/HEAT.
FAILING TO PREPARE IS PREPARING TO FAIL.
HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS IS 100% PREVENTABLE.
HERE’S HOW:
• ENGINEERING CONTROLS such as air conditioning, fans, increased ventilation, natural shade + portable shelters, reflective shields to redirect radiant heat, sealing steam leaks by insulating water vapor pressure
• ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS such as risk, symptom + first-aid training, acclimatization, regular hydration, scheduling + pacing of work based on time of day, frequent breaks, reduced physical demands
• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT such as cooling towels, vests, headwear + hard hat accessories, moisture-wicking or absorbing sweatbands, headwear + other accessories, polarized safety glasses, sunscreen + UPF rated apparel