As the public comment period for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) proposed heat stress rule concludes, businesses are seeking clarity on its potential impact. To shed light on this significant development, I spoke with Chris Nickels, a partner at Quarles & Brady, specializing in OSHA regulations.

OSHA's proposed heat stress rule is currently undergoing an administrative hearing process, expected to conclude in July, followed by a 90-day period for additional testimony. We have an article in this issue (link to Veriforce article in eMag) that explains the proposed rule and what it could mean. The earliest implementation for a finalized rule is anticipated in Q2 2026.

Nickels said the most contentious aspects of the rule are likely to be administrative elements, such as assigning dedicated staff for temperature monitoring and record-keeping, and the acclimation requirement, which could lead to non-productive work time. While providing water and training are not seen as major issues, outdoor and transient agricultural workers, as well as manufacturers with unrecognized indoor heat hazards, are expected to face the most significant challenges, he said.

Nickels also said that a common employer oversight is underestimating how hot environments, especially indoors or in trailers, can become.

Summer Safety

As we get into the full heat of summer, ISHN has you covered with all the tips and PPE recommendations you might need. In this issue, we have a first-hand account of what the summer heat really means for those of us who tend to ignore temperature warnings. We also have a PPE-focused article on how best to protect workers. If you’d prefer to read up on the regulatory issues surrounding OSHA’s proposed heat rule, we have some great primers on that as well. After the public comment period ends, be sure to check our website for further updates.

New Website Poll

We have a new poll up and I’d love for you to participate! It only takes a second to answer our informal, simple question here: https://www.ishn.com/polls

Question: Do you support or oppose the proposed OSHA rule to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury in both indoor and outdoor settings?

Follow us on LinkedIn

Did you know we have an active LinkedIn community? This year, we’re doing an AI vs. safety pros challenge in which readers can comment underneath that month’s image of a real workplace to identify any workplace hazards and compliance issues. Find our latest challenge here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7338897899763748865

We ask AI the same thing and see what it says. It’s been very interesting to see what AI comes up with vs. humans. Often, AI is NOT the winner!