California Indoor Protections Advisory

PAMA Members are advised that California’s indoor heat protections are in effect and apply to most indoor workplaces. Employers are required to adopt safety measures that go into effect in most cases when indoor temperatures reach 82°F to prevent the risk of heat illness to workers.

Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment regulation applies to most indoor workplaces, such as restaurants, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. For indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, and training.

Additional requirements, where feasible, apply where the temperature reaches 87 degrees such as cooling down the work area, implementing work-rest schedules, and providing personal heat-protective equipment. Where workers wear clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas, the additional requirements apply at 82 degrees.

Employers may be covered under both the indoor and outdoor regulations if they have both indoor and outdoor workplaces. For more information, see the Comparison Chart of Indoor and Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention Standards.

Local and state correctional facilities as well as emergency operations directly involved in the protection of life or property are exempted from the regulation for indoor heat. Cal/OSHA is in the process of developing an industry-specific regulation for local and state correctional facilities to protect their workers from indoor heat hazards. In the interim, for these exempted employers, Cal/OSHA will continue to inspect potential indoor heat violations under existing regulations such as the Injury and Illness Prevention Program ( Title 8, Section 3203) and Water Supply (Title 8, Section 3363). 

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can  call Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424. 

There are more resources for employers and workers on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page and the 99calor.org informational website, as well as a Heat Illness Prevention online tool. The advisory includes a toll free number for workers who have questions about heat illness prevention in indoor and outdoor places of employment can speak with a Cal/OSHA representative, 1-833-579-0927, and information on how to file confidential complaints with  Cal/OSHA district offices about workplace safety and health hazards.