Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries Proposes Changes to Permanent Heat Illness Prevention Rules for Outdoor Workers

WAC 296-62-09510 and 296-307-09710: Outdoor heat exposure

Expand temporal scope of rule from seasonal (May–September) to year-round applicability.

WAC 296-62-09520 and 296-307-09720: Definitions

Broaden, add, remove, or clarify definitions of key terms in the existing rule, including:

“Acclimatization”
“Buddy system”
“Double-layer woven clothing”
“Drinking water”
“Engineering controls”
“Environmental factors for heat-related illness”
“Outdoor environment”
“Risk factors for heat-related illness”
“Shade”
“Vapor barrier clothing”

WAC 296-62-09530 and 296-307-09730: Employer and employee responsibility

Update requirements for the Outdoor Heat Exposure Safety Plan and guidance regarding “preventative cool-down rest periods” and personal protective equipment (PPE).

WAC 296-62-09535 and 296-307-09735: Access to shade

Require employers to provide one or more shaded areas “large enough to accommodate all employees during a meal or rest period.”

WAC 296-62-09545 and 296-307-09745: Acclimatization

Require up to a 14-day observation period for newly assigned employees.

WAC 296-62-09547 and 296-307-09747: High heat procedures

Require rest periods when temperatures exceed high heat temperatures and “to closely observe employees for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness” when the temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

WAC 296-62-09550 and 296-307-09750: Responding to signs and symptoms of heat-related illness

Ensure effective communication between supervisors and employees.

WAC 296-62-09560 and 296-307-09760: Information and training

Require “effective” training to employees prior to outdoor work “when occupational exposure to heat might occur” with expanded training requirements regarding personal factors, environmental factors, and work conditions that may contribute to heat-related illness.