Protecting workers from heat hazards is a high priority for OSHA. In concert with the agency's rulemaking and outreach efforts to protect workers and communities from extreme heat, OSHA established a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH). The Work Group was established to help NACOSH respond to OSHA's request to provide recommendations on the Agency's heat injury and illness prevention guidance and rulemaking activities. Work Group members were selected for their extensive knowledge and experience in the causes of, identification of, and factors that affect heat injury and illness hazards in the workplace, as well as best practices and interventions for mitigating occupational heat injury and illness.

The Work Group evaluated OSHA's heat illness and prevention guidance materials, developed recommendations for current and new guidance materials, evaluated stakeholder input received in response to the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, and developed recommendations on potential elements of a proposed heat injury and illness prevention standard. The Work Group completed its recommendations and presented them to the full NACOSH. The full NACOSH discussed both sets of recommendations and came to the following decisions. First, on January 10, 2022, NACOSH voted on the Work Group's recommendations for heat illness and prevention guidance materials and agreed to submit those recommendations to OSHA. Second, on May 31, 2023, NACOSH amended the recommendations related to a proposed heat injury and illness prevention standard before voting on them and agreeing to submit the recommendations to OSHA. The Work Group's recommendations are available at www.regulations.gov: Document No. OSHA-2022-0002-0081 (recommendations on guidance materials); Document No. OSHA-2023-0003-0007 (recommendations for potential elements of a proposed heat injury and illness prevention standard); and Document No. OSHA-2023-0003-0012 (amendment to recommendations for potential elements of a proposed heat injury and illness prevention standard). The Work Group concluded on May 31, 2023.

NACOSH was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of the OSH Act, including regulatory matters (29 U.S.C. 656(a)).

Under the OSH Act, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

Find Additional Information

See additional information on Membership and meeting information.

• Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Rulemaking webpage

• National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety & Health (NACOSH) webpage

• National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Docket (OSHA-2022-0002,OSHA-2023-0003)

• Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA-2022-0003, OSHA-2023-0007)