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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced on April 8th it was instituting a National Emphasis Program (“NEP”) for:
Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards (“Program”)
See Directive Number CPL 03-00-024.
OSHA NEPs are temporary programs that focus OSHA’s resources on particular hazards on what it believes are high-hazard industries. Existing and potential new emphasis programs are evaluated by OSHA using inspection data, injury and illness data, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports, peer-reviewed literature, analysis of inspection findings, and other available information sources.
The Outdoor/Indoor Heat-Related Hazards NEP’s purpose is described as protecting:
. . . employees from heat-related hazards and resulting injuries and illnesses in outdoor and indoor workplaces.
The NEP is stated to expand on OSHA’s ongoing heat-related illness prevention initiative by setting forth what it states is a targeted enforcement component and reiterating compliance assistance and outreach efforts.
The objective of the approach is to encourage early interventions by employers to prevent illnesses and deaths among workers during high heat conditions. Early interventions are stated to include, but not limited to implementing:
- Water
- Rest
- Shade
- Training
- Acclimatization procedures for new or returning employees
The targeted industries for the NEP are identified in Appendix A.
A copy of the NEP can be downloaded here.
