If your business operates in California, a regulatory change working its way through Cal/OSHA right now could directly affect your safety compliance obligations — even if you’ve never had to worry about “high-heat procedures” before.
What’s Changing
In mid-August, Cal/OSHA released an updated draft of its heat illness prevention regulations. The goal is to bring the indoor and outdoor standards into closer alignment, using more consistent language and requirements across both. Two changes stand out for employers:
1. The high-heat exemption is going away for many industries.
Right now, the extra “high-heat procedures” — things like mandatory observation of workers for signs of heat illness and more frequent cool-down breaks — mainly apply to agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and some transportation companies. The new draft removes the blanket exemption that let other industries skip these steps. That means warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and other indoor-heavy operations could soon fall under the same stricter requirements.
2. Rhabdomyolysis is being added to the list of recognized heat illnesses.
This is a serious condition tied to heat and exertion, and the draft calls out its warning signs specifically: muscle cramps or pain, unusually dark (tea- or cola- colored) urine, muscle weakness, and exercise intolerance. Notably, the draft also flags that it can occur without any symptoms at all — which raises the bar for proactive monitoring rather than just reacting to visible signs.
Why This Matters Now
Public comments on the draft are open through September 21, 2026. If you run a facility that hasn’t historically been subject to high-heat procedures, this is the window to understand what’s coming and get ahead of it — not scramble once it’s final.
How to Get Ahead of It
Whether or not your industry is currently exempt, it’s worth reviewing your heat illness prevention plan now. A few practical steps:
- Water access — Make sure fresh, cool water is genuinely accessible at every work area, not just a central location workers have to walk to.
- Shade and cool-down areas — For outdoor or semi-outdoor work, shaded rest areas need to be available whenever temperatures climb, not just during officially declared heat events.
- Written prevention plan — A documented plan with supervisor and employee training is already required for many employers, and is likely to matter more as enforcement expands.
- First aid readiness — Make sure your first aid kits and staff training account for heat-related symptoms, including the early warning signs of rhabdomyolysis, not just heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Monitoring, not just reminders — Because some heat-related conditions can be asymptomatic, regular check-ins and buddy systems matter more than a one-time safety briefing
Where AP Safety Can Help
We work with California employers across construction, warehousing, and municipal facilities to make sure heat illness prevention plans are backed by the right equipment — not just paperwork. That includes cooling gear, hydration stations, shaded rest area setups, and first aid kits stocked and ready for heat-related incidents.
If you’re not sure whether your current setup would hold up to Cal/OSHA’s proposed changes, contact us and we’ll help you take a look.
This post is for general informational purposes and isn’t legal advice. For guidance on how the proposed regulations apply to your specific operation, consult with your legal or compliance team, or reach out to Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.
