Is your business in compliance with the new California/OSHA Indoor Heat Illness Rule? The Cal/OSHA rule, effective July 23, 2024, was put into place to keep workers safe and ensure that employers create environments conducive to comfort and safety. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for your business and your employees.
Let’s explore what heat illness rules entail in California and other locations, why they matter, and how MacroAir fans can be an integral part of your compliance strategy.
Heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious risks in workplaces where indoor temperatures can become extremely hot. Warehouses, manufacturing and distribution centers, and food service facilities are particularly vulnerable, as these environments often lack HVAC or other effective climate control. High temps not only risk worker safety but also lead to:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes these risks and is stepping up efforts to regulate indoor heat standards.
California’s indoor heat illness rule establishes specific requirements for employers when temperatures reach 82° Fahrenheit or higher. Here are some of the key elements:
Employers must develop a tailored Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan, including protocols for water access, acclimatization, cool-down areas, temperature monitoring, and emergency responses.
Fresh, suitably cool drinking water must be provided at no cost and be easily accessible to employees.
Designated cool-down areas (below 82° Fahrenheit) are required for meal and rest breaks. Employees must be encouraged to take preventative cool-down rests when needed.
Employers must:
By failing to comply with California’s Indoor Heat Illness Rule, your company’s bottom line will be impacted. Planning for these modifications in advance can help implement necessary changes efficiently and in a costly manner.
Beyond compliance, ensuring a safe and comfortable working environment is essential for:
California’s new rule follows similar standards in Washington and Minnesota (see below), where OSHA heat illness regulations are already in place. This growing trend indicates a nationwide shift toward prioritizing indoor workplace safety in hot conditions.
A few other states have implemented specific heat-related workplace safety regulations, but California's new indoor heat illness rule is one of the most comprehensive in the U.S.
The two notable states with outlined heat illness prevention standards are Washington and Minnesota, though their focus differs slightly from California’s.
Washington State’s Outdoor Heat Exposure Enforcement Procedures went into effect on July 17, 2023. Enforced by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), these regulations apply to indoor and outdoor work environments. Washington’s rules mandate:
Washington also enforces a broader focus on personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response protocols during extreme heat conditions.
Minnesota’s regulations focus on indoor temperature thresholds, governed by the state’s OSHA (MNOSHA). Unlike California’s new rule, Minnesota has long-standing heat-related requirements under its General Duty Clause and specific ventilation standards:
These laws emphasize minimizing worker exposure to excessive indoor heat through environmental controls and administrative measures.
While Texas does not have state-specific heat safety rules, Austin and Dallas have enacted ordinances requiring rest breaks for construction workers to help lower risks. Additionally, Texas employers must comply with OSHA’s General Duty Clause, which makes them provide workplaces free from environments with excessive heat.
Currently, OSHA has proposed a new heat rule to address the serious risks heat poses to workers, indoors and outdoors, across various industries. This standard aims to protect workers in construction, agriculture, and other industrial settings from heat-related illnesses and fatalities. Here are a couple of key points in the proposal:
OSHA’s proposed heat rule has been published in the Federal Register and is currently in the process of collecting comments and feedback from the public. Furthermore, a hearing on the proposal will take place in June, 2025. This new plan shows OSHA’s continued commitment to reducing heat-related illnesses while providing safer working conditions nationwide.
Check out this blog from the U.S. Department of Labor highlighting 8 things you need to know about OSHA’s proposed heat rule.
MacroAir high volume, low speed (HVLS) fans help employers comply with heat-related regulations by providing extremely effective cooling solutions that will instantly reduce perceived temperatures and protect workers from heat-related illness.
Simply put, when temperatures rise, MacroAir’s HVLS fans offer an effective solution to mitigating indoor heat. Here’s how:
MacroAir fans create a cooling breeze that reduces perceived temperatures by up to 15° Fahrenheit, keeping employees comfortable and safe.
Compared to traditional cooling systems, MacroAir fans consume significantly less energy, providing cost-effective temperature control.
MacroAir HVLS fans work with existing HVAC systems to equally distribute air throughout the facility, allowing you to lower your set-point, use less tonnage, and, therefore, significantly lower your cooling bills.
Our fans can be seamlessly integrated into existing heat illness prevention plans, serving as affordable and essential “engineering controls” (ie: cooling fans) to meet compliance standards.
No matter your facility requirements, MacroAir’s various HVLS fan models and customization options aim to suit diverse industrial and commercial environments.
As heat regulations tighten, MacroAir fans are a trusted solution for compliance, safety, and comfort. Whether in California or beyond, investing in cooling solutions like MacroAir fans is key to protecting your workforce and maintaining productivity.
Don’t let heat disrupt your business. Explore our product line today!