Background and Proposed Changes
Currently, California has an Outdoor Heat Illness Regulation for all outdoor places of employment. That regulation has been in effect for more than a decade, and Cal/OSHA regularly and aggressively enforces it throughout California. The May 19, 2023, public comments part of the Standard Board’s agenda included many employer-side representatives, including the California Chamber of Commerce, whose representatives spoke about the need for clarity and consistency with the current outdoor heat regulation. Employer representatives requested an exception for brief exposures such as those less than fifteen minutes and requested clarity regarding the application to vehicles. On August 4, 2023, the Standards Board opened the fifteen-day notice comment period for the public to provide comments on Cal/OSHA’s proposed modifications.
