The employer must implement the following high heat procedures when the temperature is at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, unless engineering or administrative controls (such as air-conditioning or scheduling work at cooler times of the day) are used to lower employees' exposure below 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
(1) Ensure that employees take at minimum the mandatory cool-down rest periods in Table 2. The cool-down rest period must be provided in the shade or using other equally or more effective means to reduce body temperature. The mandatory cool-down rest period may be provided concurrently with any meal or rest period required under WAC
296-126-092 and must be paid unless taken during a meal period that is not otherwise required to be compensated. Mandatory cool-down rest periods in Table 2 are not required during emergency response operations where rescue, evacuation, utilities, communications, transportation, law enforcement, and medical operations are directly aiding firefighting, protecting public health and safety, or actively protecting, restoring or maintaining the safe and reliable operation of critical infrastructure at risk.
Table 2
Air Temperature | Mandatory cool-down rest periods |
At or above 90°F | 10 minutes/2 hours |
At or above 100°F | 15 minutes/1 hour |
Notes: | • Employers may also consider implementing more additional protective rest periods per NIOSH or ACGIH methods: |
| - NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard for Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2016-106/pdfs/2016-106.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2016106 |
| - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Heat Stress and Strain: https://www.acgih.org/heat-stress-and-strain-2/ |
| • The department will review work-rest periods within three years after the outdoor heat exposure rule goes into effect. We will review applicable data including, but not limited to, heat-related illness claims, inspections, other national and state regulations, peer-reviewed publications, and nationally recognized standards. |
(2) Closely observe employees for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness by implementing one or more of the following:
(a) Regular communication with employees working alone, such as by radio or cellular phone;
(b) A mandatory buddy system; or
(c) Other effective means of observation.