Advocacy Testifies at OSHA’s Public Hearing on Proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule

The Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) testified on the first day of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s informal public hearing on OSHA’s proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings (Heat IIP) rule. OSHA’s proposed rule would apply to employers whose employees are exposed to temperatures above 80 degrees, including small businesses in general industry, construction, agriculture, and maritime and small governmental jurisdictions in states that would have to adopt conforming regulations. The proposed rule was the subject of a Small Business Advocacy Review panel (also known as a SBREFA panel) in 2023. Advocacy’s testimony recommends that OSHA avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and develop a new flexible, performance-oriented standard that accounts for geographic, sector, employee, and workplace differences. OSHA’s public hearing began on Monday, June 16, 2025, and will continue through Wednesday, July 2, 2025.