On June 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396, “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment”. This standard applies to most workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F. It establishes required safety measures for indoor workplaces to prevent worker exposure to risk of heat illness. This standard went into effect on July 23, 2024.
For outdoor heat illness prevention, refer to Title 8, section 3395.
Learn how to control the risk of heat-induced illness, train workers to protect themselves, recognize symptoms, and respond should a heat illness emergency occur.
Heat Illness
Any individual, regardless of age, sex or health status can develop heat stress if they are engaged in intense physical activity and/or exposed to environmental heat (and humidity). If heat exposure exceeds the physiologic capacity of the body to cool itself, and core body temperature rises, then a range of heat-related symptoms and conditions can develop – from relatively minor treatable heat cramps to severe life threatening heat stroke, which is always an extreme medical emergency. Even when acclimatized, adequate hydration is critical to avoid of development of heat-related illness.
In order to prevent heat illness in employees, supervisors must monitor weather conditions, including projected temperatures and humidity.
Heat Related Illness
- Heat Cramps
- Heat Rash
- Sunburn
- Heat Exhaustion
- Heat stroke
Heat Illness Standards
In California, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness in both indoor and outdoor workplaces under California Code of Regulations, Title 8 (T8CCR), sections 3395 and 3396. These standards require employers to implement measures to prevent heat-related illnesses in all outdoor and indoor places of employment.
Supervisors and employees covered under this standard are responsible for understanding and complying with the campus program policies and procedures as outlined in the UC Santa Cruz Heat Illness Prevention Plan.
| Requirement | Outdoor Heat (T8CCR 3395) | Indoor Heat (T8CCR 3396) |
| Scope and Application | Applies to outdoor workplaces | Applies to indoor workplaces when the indoor temperature is greater than 82°F |
| Provide Clean Drinking Water | Provide access to potable water that is fresh, suitably cool, and free of chargeLocated as close as possible to work areas | Provide access to potable water that is fresh, suitably cool, and free of chargeLocated as close as possible to work areas and cool-down areas |
| Access to Shade and Cool-Down Areas | For outdoor workplaces, shade must be present when temperatures are greater than 80°F. When temperatures are less than 80°F, shade must be available upon requestFor indoor workplaces, provide access to at least one cool-down area which must be kept at a temperature below 82°FShade and cool-down areas must be:Blocked from direct sunlightLarge enough to accommodate the number of workers on rest breaks so they can sit comfortably without touching each otherClose as possible to the work areasFor indoor workplaces, the cool-down areas must be kept at less than 82°F and shielded from other high-radiant heat sources | |
| Cool-Down Rest Periods | Encourage workers to take preventative cool-down rest periodsAllow workers who ask for a cool-down rest period to take oneMonitor workers taking such rest periods for symptoms of heat-related illness | |
| High-Heat Procedures | Have and implement procedures to deal with heat when the temperature equals or exceeds 95°FProcedures must include:Observing and communicating effectively with workersReminding workers to drink water and take cool-down rest breaks | Not applicable to Indoor Workplaces |
| Assessment and Control Measures | Not applicable to Outdoor Workplaces | Measure the temperature and heat index and record whichever is greater whenever the temperature or heat index reaches 87°F (or temperature reaches 82°F for workers working in clothing that restricts heat removal or high-radiant-heat areas)Implement control measures to keep workers safe. Feasible engineering controls must be implemented first. |
| Monitoring the Weather | Monitor outdoor temperature and ensure that once the temperature exceeds 80°F, shade structures will be opened and made available to the workersWhen it is at least 95°F, implement high-heat proceduresTrain supervisors on how to check weather reports and how to respond to weather advisories | For indoor workplaces that are affected by outdoor temperatures, train supervisors on how to check weather reports and how to respond to hot weather advisories |
| Emergency Response Procedures | Provide first aid or emergency response to any workers showing heat illness signs or symptoms, including contacting emergency medical services | |
| Acclimatization | Closely observe new workers and newly assigned workers working in hot areas during a 14-day acclimatization period, as well as all workers working during a heat wave | |
| Training | Employers must provide training to both workers and supervisors | |
| Heat Illness Prevention Plan | Establish, implement, and maintain an effective written Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan that includes procedures for providing drinking water, shade, preventative rest periods, close observation during acclimatization, high-heat procedures, training, prompt emergency response | Establish, implement, and maintain an effective written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan that includes procedures for providing drinking water, cool-down areas, preventative rest periods, close observation during acclimatization, assessment and measurement of heat, training, prompt emergency response, and feasible control measures |
Safety Training
- Complete the Heat Illness eCourse on the UC Learning Center.
- To schedule in-person group training, contact EH&S at ehs@ucsc.edu.
Resources
- UCSC Heat Illness Prevention Plan (PDF)
- Heat Illness Prevention Program worksite specific template (PDF)
- Cal OSHA Fact sheet for employers (PDF)
- Cal OSHA Fact sheet for employees (PDF)
- Heat Symptoms First Aid (PDF)
- NOAA Heat Risk Map
- National Integrated Heat Health Information System
- CA Department of Industrial Relations Indoor Heat
- CA Department of Industrial Relations Outdoor Heat