food service at UC Davis

Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment

In 2023, Cal/OSHA, the governmental organization in charge of ensuring the health and safety of workers in California, published a proposed regulation aimed at preventing heat stress in indoor places of employment.

Update: April 2024
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to pass the bill in March of 2024. However, the rule is still awaiting final approval from several governmental agencies. It is not yet known when this proposed regulation will be fully approved and implemented throughout the state of California. 

The proposal – with a few exceptions – identifies indoor workspaces where the temperature is equal to or exceeds 82°F as locations where employers will have to implement additional health and safety controls.


The measures in the proposal include providing access to drinking water and cool-down areas, conducting assessments, implementing control measures, establishing emergency response procedures, closely monitoring acclimatization, delivering effective training, and creating a Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP).

Some examples of areas likely to be impacted include:

  • Kitchens
  • Stables and barns
  • Greenhouses
  • Server rooms
  • Cage wash facilities
  • Mechanical rooms

Important Notes:

  • 'Indoor work area' refers to a space that is under a ceiling or overhead covering that restricts airflow and is enclosed along its entire perimeter by walls, doors, windows, dividers, or other physical barriers that restrict airflow, whether open or closed.
  • Does not apply to teleworking locations not owned/controlled by employer.

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