The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has updated its National Emphasis Program—Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards by focusing inspections and outreach in industries and workplaces where heat stress risks are most likely to occur, according to osha.gov.
Originally issued in April 2022, the revised program, which protects workers from outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, uses OSHA and Bureau of Labor Statistics data from calendar years 2022-25 to prioritize 55 high-risk industries in indoor and outdoor work settings.
Using this data, OSHA identified industries with high rates of heat-related illness and industries with employers who have received heat-related citations or hazard alert letters. The revised program removes outdated background information; updates links; eliminates the former numerical inspection goal; and introduces two reorganized appendices—one for evaluating heat programs and another for citation guidance. The update also includes clearer guidance to improve tracking and more effectively implement the program’s enforcement and outreach efforts.
Compliance officers will continue to conduct outreach and compliance assistance and expand inspection when there is evidence of heat-related hazards on heat priority days. They also will conduct random inspections focused on heat hazards in high-risk industries on days when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or warning.
The revised National Emphasis Program is effective immediately and will be in place for five years after the effective date.
