---
title: "What does OSHA require for heat illness prevention, and what is the status of the heat rule? Answer in under 100 words."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/osha/heat-illness-prevention-osha-requirements
jurisdiction: "US Federal"
last_verified: 2026-08-26
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# What does OSHA require for heat illness prevention, and what is the status of the heat rule? Answer in under 100 words.

As of the rulemaking record following the October 30, 2025 closure of post-hearing comments, OSHA has issued no final, codified heat-illness standard in 29 CFR 1910 or 1926. Current worker protection relies on the OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause plus OSHA's National Emphasis Program for heat. A proposed rule covering outdoor and indoor work settings was published August 30, 2024 (Docket OSHA-2021-0009); the informal hearing concluded July 2, 2025.

## Details / How it works

With no codified heat standard, OSHA protects workers from heat hazards using the OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause — the general obligation to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards — plus its National Emphasis Program for heat, rather than a standalone mandatory heat rule.

A proposed rule titled *Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings* was published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2024 (Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009, RIN 1218-AD39). An informal hearing concluded July 2, 2025, and the post-hearing comment period for NOITA filers closed October 30, 2025; a final rule had not yet been issued.

## Numbers & thresholds



| Milestone | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Proposed rule (NPRM) published | August 30, 2024 |
| Informal hearing concluded | July 2, 2025 |
| Post-hearing comments (NOITA filers) closed | October 30, 2025 |
| Final codified standard in 29 CFR 1910 / 1926 | Not yet issued |


## Exceptions & edge cases

The proposed rule explicitly addresses heat injury and illness prevention in **both outdoor and indoor work settings**. However, because it remains uncodified, its provisions confer no enforceable obligations yet; employer duties continue to flow from the General Duty Clause and OSHA's National Emphasis Program.

## Sources

- [1] Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Government Publishing Office (govinfo.gov) — Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings; Proposed Rule (89 FR 70738) · https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-08-30/pdf/2024-14824.pdf · as of 2026-08-26