Salem – As a rule addressing protections against the dangers of high heat in the workplace is set to take effect June 15, Oregon OSHA encourages employers and workers to use new resources developed by the division to help understand and comply with the rule.
The following free resources are now available online. Spanish-language versions of fact sheets are on their way.
- Heat illness prevention online course: Designed to satisfy certain training requirements found in the heat rule, the course addresses such topics as common signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, risk factors, how the heat index is measured, and access to shade, drinking water, and other measures.
- Fact sheet about the key requirements of the heat rule: This five-page document highlights the rule’s key overall requirements, offering a reader-friendly summary of what employers and workers need to know about the rule.
- Available in English
- Fact sheet about the heat rule’s rest break schedule options for preventing heat illness: This two-page document provides a quick, easy-to-use overview of the part of the heat rule that addresses rest break schedule options A, B, and C.
- Available in English
“These new resources reflect our ongoing commitment to helping employers achieve compliance with the heat rule as they move forward with their operations,” said Renee Stapleton, acting administrator for Oregon OSHA.
Oregon OSHA adopted heat and wildfire smoke rules in May. Both rules encompass initial protective measures for workers who rely on employer-provided housing, including as part of farm operations. The wildfire smoke rule will take effect July 1. Resources to help understand and comply with the wildfire smoke rule are coming.
Both rules were proposed in February, following a development process that included worker and community stakeholder listening sessions, input and review by rule advisory committees, and input from employer and labor stakeholders. The rules build on temporary emergency requirements that were adopted in summer 2021 following several months of stakeholder and community engagement.
The heat rule addresses access to shade and cool water, preventive cool-down breaks, and prevention plans, information, and training. The wildfire smoke rule includes an array of exposure assessments and controls, and training and communication.
More resources are available:
- A worker’s right to a safe and health workplace.
- Free Oregon OSHA consultations for employers to improve workplace safety and health programs – no fault, no citations, no penalties.
- Questions about how to apply rules to your workplace? Contact Oregon OSHA specialists.
- A-to-Z topic index, including pages for heat illness prevention and wildfire smoke.
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (includes Oregon OSHA as a division) Multicultural Communications Program, providing outreach to communities with limited English proficiency. Toll-free number for Spanish-speaking Oregonians: 800-843-8086.
- Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers for help understanding workplace safety and health rights, and workers’ compensation rights.
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Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, go to osha.oregon.gov.
The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For mo
