Protect Yourselves from Heat at Work

Working in hot conditions can be harmful to your health. Heat exposure on the job can cause heat-related illness (HRI), leading to sickness or injury, and in some cases, can even be deadly. HRI is serious, but preventable.

If you work outdoors or indoors where the temperature is higher than 82°F, your employer must take steps to protect you and prevent heat-related illness (HRI) in your workplace.

This page provides information about:

HRI signs and symptoms
Tips to prevent HRI
Your safety rights
Resources

If you’re an employer of outdoor workers, visit our webpage: Employers: Protect Your Workers from Outdoor Heat.

If you’re an employer of indoor workers, visit our webpage: Employers: Protect Your Workers from Indoor Heat.

Heat-related Illness (HRI) Signs and Symptoms

Heat-related illness (HRI) includes conditions like heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat stroke is very serious and can be deadly if not treated right away. Sometimes, HRI is mild and can be managed with water and rest breaks to cool down. Other times, it can be severe and need immediate medical help.

Keep an eye on yourself and your coworkers for these HRI signs and symptoms. If you notice any of these symptoms, take action immediately.

Closely monitor if any of these HRI signs or symptoms occur:

Heat Rash

Red clusters on the skin or skin rashes

Heat Cramps

Heavy sweating
Muscle pain or spasms

Act fast, get help for yourself or stay with your coworker if any of these signs or symptoms occur:

Heat Exhaustion

High body temperature
Heavy sweating
Headache
Tiredness or weakness
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting
Dizziness

Heat Related Illness Signs and Symptoms Poster Heat Stroke

Very high body temperature
Red, dry, or damp skin
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Dizziness
Confusion
Unconsciousness

For serious or life-threatening emergencies such as fainting, confusion, or unconsciousness, call 911 immediately. For more information about HRI signs and symptoms, download Stay Heat-Safe at Work (English, PDF) and Stay Heat-Safe at Work (Spanish, PDF).

Tips to Prevent HRI

Heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths are PREVENTABLE. Prepare yourself in these 5 ways:

Stay Cool

Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
Use shady or cool-down areas at work.
Take cool rest breaks when needed. Find cooling centers near you during non-work hours to recover from the heat, if needed.

Stay Protected

Allow 1-2 weeks to get used to heat if you are starting a new job, new tasks, returning to work after many days away, working during heat waves or in hot areas. Getting used to the heat is called acclimatization. Talk to your employer about this safety law.
Wear a hat when outdoors.
Know your worker and safety rights.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water, and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.
Choose low-sugar electrolyte sports or energy drinks.
Avoid alcohol

Stay Connected

Read your employer’s heat illness prevention plan.
Use a buddy system when working in the heat.
Encourage your co-workers to take breaks to cool off and drink water.

Stay Informed

Ask your employer about HRI trainings that are available.
Understand first aid emergency response procedures.
Check weather forecasts using the heat risk dashboard tool.

Your Safety Rights

Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. Cal/OSHA has rules to protect you from heat-related illnesses (HRI) that your employer must follow. Check out the table below to learn more about outdoor or indoor heat safety regulations and how you can stay safe while working.

For questions about heat illness prevention, call Cal/OSHA to speak with a representative. Bilingual representatives are also available.

Agriculture worker holding basket of garlic

Contact Cal/OSHA:
Phone Number: 833-579-0927
Hours: 9AM to 7PM

Report Heat-Related Injuries or illnesses
If you’ve experienced an injury or illness due to heat exposure you can file a workplace safety complaint or find your district office.
Complaints made to Cal/OSHA are kept confidential.

Prevent Employer Retaliation
Have you experienced retaliation or discrimination? Learn how you can file a retaliation complaint. Additional resources are available to help prevent workplace retaliation and keep you protected.

Outdoor Heat Safety

If you work outdoors, your employer must protect you from heat illness, according to Cal/OSHA’s Section 3395.

What Your Employer Must Do	What You Can Do at Work
Cool Drinking Water: Provide access to safe drinking water (PDF, 1.1MB) that is fresh, cool, free of charge, and as close as possible to work areas. Encourage workers to drink water throughout the workday and provide time for them to do so.	Drink Water: Keep hydrated throughout the day.
Shade Access: Provide access to shade when temperatures are greater than 80°F or upon request by employees when temperatures are below 80°F.	Use or request Shade: Take breaks in shaded areas, especially when it’s over 80°F
Rest Periods: Encourage and allow workers to take cool down rests breaks or rests in the shade as needed. Monitor workers taking such rest periods for signs and symptoms of HRI during cool-down rest breaks.	Rest Often: Take cool-down rest breaks as needed.
High Heat Procedures: Develop and implement High-Heat Procedures for outdoor settings where temperatures reach or exceed 95°F.	Stay Safe: When it’s 95°F or more, drink water regularly, watch for signs of heat illness, and take cool-down rest breaks as needed.
Check the Weather: Monitor outdoor temperatures especially during heat waves. Train supervisors on how to check and respond to weather forecasts.	Be Ready: Know the temperature and heat wave forecasts.
Emergency Response: Provide first aid emergency response to any workers showing heat illness signs or symptoms, including contacting emergency medical services	Get Help: If you or a coworker show signs of heat illness (PDF), get first aid and call emergency services.
Acclimate: Begin a 14-day acclimatization period. Actively monitor employees newly assigned to hot areas, as well as all employees during heat waves.	Adjust Gradually: Take 1-2 weeks to get used to heat, whether starting a new job, new tasks, returning to work after many days away, or working during heat waves or in hot areas.
Training : Provide trainings for workers and supervisors that include topics about HRI prevention.	Learn More: Make sure you know how to prevent heat illness.
Heat Illness Prevention Plan: Develop and keep a Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP), available in the language understood by the majority of the employees.	Know the Plan: Follow the Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) available in your language

Indoor Heat Safety

If you work indoors where temperatures reach or exceed 82°F, your employer must protect you from heat illness according to Cal/OSHA’s Section 3396.

What your Employer Must Do	What You Can Do at Work
Cool Drinking Water: Provide access to safe drinking water (PDF, 1.1MB) that is fresh, cool, free of charge, and as close as possible to work areas. Encourage workers to drink water throughout the workday and provide time for them to do so.	Drink Water: Keep hydrated throughout the day.
Cool-Down Area: Provide at least one cool-down area below 82◦F	Cool-Down: Take breaks in cool-down area that should be kept below 82°F, blocked from direct sunlight, and close to your work area.
Rest Periods: Encourage and allow workers to take cool down rests breaks as needed. Monitor workers taking such rest periods for signs and symptoms of HRI during cool-down rest breaks.	Rest Often: Take cool-down rest breaks as needed.
Assessment and Control Measures: Measure both the indoor temperature and the heat index, and record whichever is greater. Implement engineering and administrative control measures if the: Temperature or heat index reaches 87°F. Temperature reaches 82°F for employees working in clothing that traps heat or in high radiant heat areas.	Stay Safe: Employers must measure indoor temperature and heat index and take action if it reaches 87°F or 82°F in high heat areas.
Check the Weather: Train supervisors on how to check and respond to weather forecasts when indoor temperatures are affected by outdoor weather.	Be Ready: Know the temperature and heat wave forecasts.
Emergency Response: Provide first aid emergency response to any workers showing heat illness signs or symptoms, including contacting emergency medical services	Get Help: If you or a coworker show signs of heat illness (PDF), get first aid and call emergency services.
Acclimate: Begin a 14-day acclimatization period. Actively monitor employees newly assigned to hot areas, as well as all employees during heat waves.	Adjust Gradually: Take 1-2 weeks to get used to heat, whether starting a new job, new tasks, returning to work after many days away, working during heat waves or in hot areas.
Training: Provide trainings for workers and supervisors that include topics about HRI prevention .	Learn More: Make sure you know how to prevent heat illness.
Heat Illness Prevention Plan: Develop and keep an indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP), available in the language understood by the majority of the employees.	Know the Plan: Follow the Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) available in your language