OSHA Extends Deadline for Submitting Comments on Proposed Heat Exposure Rule
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the U.S. Department of Labor published a notice of proposed rulemaking on Aug 30, 2024, on heat injury prevention in outdoor and indoor work settings and invited stakeholders to submit feedback on the proposed rule.
The deadline for submitting comments was set to 120 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register (December 30, 2024); however, OSHA has announced that the deadline for submitting comments has been extended until January 14, 2025, to give stakeholders additional time to gather relevant data for their input and to submit their feedback on the proposed rule.
Until the new rule is signed into law, OSHA can cite employers for failing to protect workers from the dangers of extreme heat under the General Duty Clause; however, proving violations requires a four-part test. OSHA believes a new rule is required to better protect workers from extreme heat risks in the workplace. The proposed rule has been reviewed by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Small Business Advocacy Review panel, and was unanimously passed by OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.
“Reducing the dangers of workplace heat exposure and illness is critical to saving lives and preventing workers from suffering needless illnesses,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas Parker. “This 15-day extension to the already lengthy comment period will take the deadline past the holiday season and help ensure that stakeholders can share valuable insights we need to craft a rule that protects workers from extreme heat indoors and outdoors effectively.”
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OSHA has also confirmed that a virtual public hearing on the proposed rule has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2025.
