Heat Injury and Illness Prevention - Washington

The Washington Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has adopted a standard for heat injury and illness prevention that goes beyond the requirements of OSHA’s General Duty Clause. It requires employers to prepare their employees for working in hot conditions through planning, training, and more. The standard applies to all employers whose workers are exposed to outdoor heat.

Requirements for employers include:

• Developing a written accident prevention program that includes heat illness/injury;
• Providing adequate cool drinking water, shade, and other means for workers to reduce body temperatures;
• Creating emergency response procedures for employees who show signs of heat illness;
• Providing acclimatization procedures for workers who will be exposed to heat;
• Encouraging workers to take preventative cool-down periods to protect from overheating;
• Training of employees and supervisors prior to any outdoor work beginning; and more.

Heat stress

Related information

• Temperature extremes
• National Emphasis Program - Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards (osha.gov)

Citations

• Washington Admin. Code 296-62-095 through 296-62-09560
• Federal regulation 29 USC 654