04/23/2026

OSHA Targets More Industries in Heat Safety Program

OSHA is expanding its heat safety enforcement to reach more aging services providers, including those delivering care in home- and community-based settings. The update signals increased federal attention to how organizations assess and respond to heat risk—especially during extreme weather—while broader rulemaking on a national heat standard remains pending.

What You Need To Know

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a revised National Emphasis Program directive on April 10, 2026, expanding enforcement on heat-related hazards in both indoor and outdoor settings.
• Newly targeted industries now include NAICS Code 6241 – Individual and Family Services, covering settings such as adult day services and home- and community-based care.
• OSHA will prioritize inspections on days when the National Weather Service issues a local heat warning or advisory.
• A 90-day outreach period is required before programmed inspections begin in newly targeted industries.
• The program adds new guidance on evaluating employer heat illness prevention efforts and issuing citations. The initiative will remain in effect for five years.

What Happens Next

• The enforcement program operates separately from OSHA’s proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rule, which would establish a nationwide standard.
• That proposed rule would require employers to assess heat risk and implement safeguards such as water access, rest breaks, and indoor temperature controls.
• The rule would apply broadly across industries but may exclude certain climate-controlled indoor settings.
• OSHA has not yet finalized the rule.

What to Do

• Review current policies for preventing heat-related illness across all service settings, including care delivered in private homes.
• Prepare for potential outreach from OSHA during the 90-day education period.
• Identify how heat risk is assessed and documented, especially for staff working in nontraditional environments.
• Monitor federal rulemaking and LeadingAge advocacy, including LeadingAge comments on the proposed standard, which call for flexibility in home-based care settings.

For more information, read the full article here.