Whether your employees work inside or out, heat-related illness is a serious risk that can lead to legal and financial consequences for your business. As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ramps up its focus on workplace heat safety, small business owners should take steps to ensure compliance.

Below we outline what small business owners need to know about heat safety rules and what steps you can take to protect your workers.

What Federal Law Requires

Heat is recognized as a serious workplace hazard, so OSHA can cite employers under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which requires employers to maintain a work environment “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to [] employees.”

Renewed Focus on Heat Under OSHA’s Updated National Emphasis Program

On April 10, 2026, OSHA released an updated National Emphasis Program (NEP) for heat standard prevention, signaling a renewed commitment to enforcement for both outdoor and indoor work environments. The revised NEP added 22 industries to its targeted enforcement list. The revised NEP took effect immediately and will remain active for five years.

Under the updated NEP, OSHA Compliance Officers will expand inspections if they find evidence of heat-related hazards, particularly on heat priority days (days when the heat index is forecasted to be 80°F or higher). OSHA Compliance Officers may also conduct unannounced, random inspections at worksites in high-risk industries on days when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or warning. During these visits, OSHA Compliance Officers will assess whether working conditions and job demands might contribute to heat-related health hazards for employees.

Be Aware of State Heat Standards

Be aware of any state-specific requirements, as they may go beyond what federal law currently mandates. The following states have enacted specific occupational heat safety standards: California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Heat-Related Illness and the Associated Cost to Businesses

Heat-related illness happens when the body cannot cool itself down fast enough. When it’s hot outside or when you’re physically active, your body needs to release extra heat to stay at a safe temperature. It does this naturally through sweating, otherwise known as heat dissipation. If heat dissipation does not happen fast enough, body temperature begins to rise, which can cause a range of symptoms including thirst, irritability, rashes, cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke in severe cases.

Employees suffering from heat-related illness can be costly for your business. It can lead to reduced productivity, increased time off work, workers’ compensation claims, and in serious cases, hospitalization or death.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Workers

Being proactive and taking steps to reduce the risk of heat-related illness will not only protect your workers and prevent unforeseen costs but also ensure compliance with OSHA workplace safety rules.

• Make water easily accessible. Ensure cool drinking water is available throughout your worksite and encourage employees to drink regularly. Four to six ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes during periods of heat exposure is a commonly cited guideline.
• Schedule rest breaks and require employees to take them. Build breaks into the daily work schedule and make sure supervisors are actively reminding staff to use them. Rest areas should be shaded or air-conditioned whenever possible.
• Schedule strenuous tasks during cooling times of day. When possible, the most physically demanding work should take place during cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings. Rotating workers is another useful strategy to reduce prolonged heat exposure.
• Build up worker heat tolerance. Workers who are new to physically demanding jobs or who have not previously worked in hot environments are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness and need time to gradually build up their tolerance. This can be done by assigning new employees to lighter workloads and shorter shifts.
• Train supervisors and workers on how to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness. Supervisors and employees should know how to identify heat-related symptoms and understand what steps to take if a worker shows signs of illness. On particularly hot days, consider assigning someone to actively monitor your workers.
• Draft a prevention plan. A written heat illness prevention plan tailored to your specific worksite and industry can reduce your risk of heat-related incidents and demonstrate good faith compliance efforts. Be sure to incorporate any state-specific requirements that apply to your business.

 
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a recommended standard for managing workplace heat stress with suggested heat-related illness prevention strategies for employers. The NIOSH guidelines can serve as a useful reference tool when developing your own heat safety protocols and prevention plan.

For additional information and guidance on preventing heat illness, visit www.osha.gov/heat.

Looking Ahead

In 2024, OSHA published a notice of proposed rulemaking titled, “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” While the proposed rule remains unfinalized, the new mandate would set specific, enforceable requirements for employers across the country. Whether or not the mandate is finalized, small business owners still have an obligation to comply with OSHA workplace and heat safety standards.

If you have any questions about OSHA compliance or heat standards, reach out to the NFIB Legal Center at info@NFIB.org.

Updated May 8, 2026