Record heat continues to engulf many regions of the country, and roofers remain hard at work. In July, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released the official wording of its new heat injury and illness standard for workers in both indoor and outdoor settings. The regulatory agency began working on the guidelines in 2021 and is expected to finalize and adopt them before the end of the year. 

Here’s what contractors need to know about changing regulations.

1. Contractors are responsible for developing a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (HIIPP) with input from non-managerial employees. Emergency contact information and transparent procedures for recognizing and responding to signs and symptoms of a heat-related illness or emergency are necessary.
2. Company leaders must regularly monitor temperatures on the jobsite. 
3. Employers must provide drinking water and cooling breaks at 80°F, known as the ‘initial heat trigger.’
4. Contractors must watch for signs of heat illness and provide mandatory fifteen-minute breaks every two hours at 90°F, the "high-heat trigger."
5. Review, evaluate and update the company’s HIIPP annually or as needed.

Once finalized, the new standards will take effect immediately in states without an OSHA plan. States with OSHA-approved plans that don’t meet the new requirements must adopt the federal rule or develop their own equivalent standards. The OSHA website provides more information and a full breakdown of the signs and symptoms of heat illness.