On March 5, 2020, The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board adopted a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) to initiate the regulatory process to a adopt regulation applicable to Heat Illness Prevention. Heat-related illnesses generally include:
- Heat Stroke
- Heat Exhaustion
- Heat syncope (temporary loss of consciousness) or fainting
- Heat Rash
- Heat Cramps
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
The intent of the regulatory action is to reduce/eliminate employee injuries, illnesses, and fatalities due to exposure to excessive heat at indoor and outdoor places of work. Goals for the regulation would include identifying methods to reduce or eliminate heat illness hazards; and educating employees and employers about heat-related illness external risk factors, heat-related illness internal risk factors, medical conditions that can contribute to heat illness, symptoms of heat-related illness, and precautions to take to reduce or eliminate heat illness hazards.
For a description of how the process works see How the Regulatory Process Works in Virginia
Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) on Consideration of a Heat Illness Prevention Standard, 16VAC25-210
Agency Background Document for the NOIRA on Heat Illness Prevention
Track Progress on Consideration of a Heat Illness Prevention Standard, 16VAC25-210
30-Day Comment Period for the NOIRA on Heat Illness Prevention
Bernard Letter with Attachment 2021-10-15
Fletcher AFL-CIO_VA Heat Advisory Panel Comments on Draft Rule
Fulcher Virginia Heat Standard Comments 10-15-2021
McFarland Heat Stress RAP Comment
Rowe October 15, 2021 Comments of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Sivin- Comments on Virginia Heat Standard
Sokas- Advisory Board Member Comments for Proposed Heat Illness Prevention Standard
Stanley VAC Comments Heat Illness Standard RAP 10-15-21
West Regulatory Advisory Panel Comments DOLI Heat Standard 10-15-21
1 – Agenda for Third Meeting of Heat Illness Prevention Standard Regulatory Advisory Panel October 7, 2021
2 – OSHA National News Release – Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Coming October, 2021, 9.20.2021
3 – NACOSH Heat Illness Prevention Work Group, 9.9.2021
4 – OSHA National News Release – Development of Heat Inspection National Emphasis Program, 9.27.2021
5 – SMALL GROUP 3 – Proposed Virginia Heat Illness Prevention Standard 16VAC25-210 DRAFT – SG 3 Comments 9.11.2021
6 – SMALL GROUP 3 Presentation
7 – SMALL GROUP 2 – Summary of Comments on Draft Virginia Heat Illness Prevention Standard – COMBINED 10.6.2021
8 – SMALL GROUP 4 VA Heat Panel group 4 – presentation 10.7.2021 update
9 – SMALL GROUP 1 Report 20211007
1 – Agenda for Second Meeting of Heat Illness Prevention Standard Regulatory Advisory Panel September 1, 2021
2 – California Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment, 4.19.2019
3 – CH_308_HBO722t Maryland Heat Stress Standards, Maryland Code 5-1201
4 – HBO722 Maryland Fiscal and Policy Note
5 – Evaluation of Occupational Exposure Limits for Heat Stress in Outdoor Workers, MMWR, July 6, 2018
6 – ABSTRACT – Risk Factors for Heat-Related Illness in U.S. Workers, An OSHA Case Series, JOEM, August 2018
7 – NEHC-prevention-and-treatment-of-heat-and-cold-stress-injuries-2007
8 – Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, The Assessment of Sultriness. Part I
9 – Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, The Assessment of Sultriness. Part II
10 – Methods to Calculate the Heat Index as an Exposure Metric in
11 – National Weather Service Heat Index Calculator and Chart, 8.29.2021
12 – Summary of Virginia Heat Fatalities and Catastrophes
13 – Summary of VOSH Complaints, Referrals, Employer Reported Cases, and Inspections
14 – Summary of Virginia Workers’ Compensation Heat Illness Statistics 1.1.2009 to 8.15.2021
15 – Small Groups 08-31-2021
16 – Comparison Chart – Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Minnesota, 8.15.2021
17 – Proposed Virginia Heat Illness Prevention Standard, 16VAC25-210, DRAFT 8.30.2021
1 – Agenda for First Meeting of Heat Illness Prevention Standard Regulatory Advisory Panel
2 – Webex Overview
3 – Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board
4 – Regulatory Advisory Panel Description
5 – Virginia Regulatory Process
6 – EO-14-(Updated)-Development-And-Review-Of-State-Agency-Regulations
7 – Virginia Regulatory Townhall
8 – Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board Information Briefing, Heat Illness March 19, 2019
9 – Secretary of Labor v. A. H. Sturgill Roofing, Inc., OSHRC Docket No. 13-0224, 2019
10 – BP NOIRA Heat Illness FINAL 3.5.2020
11 – NOIRA 30 Day Public Comment Period and Department Response, 8.4.2021
12 – Proposed Legislation, 2020 and 2021 Virginia General Assembly Sessions
13 – Oregon Heat Illness Prevention Rule, 437-002-0155, 437-002-0144, With Temporary Rule 7.8.2021
14 – Washington State Department of Labor, WAC 296-62-095 Outdoor Heat Exposure Standard, With Emergency Amendment 7.13.2021
15 – Minnesota Indoor Ventilation and Temperature in Places of Employment Rule, 5205.0110, 5206.0500, 5206.0700
16 – California Heat Illness Prevention in Outdoor Places of Employment, 3395
17 – NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard, Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments, 2016-106
The third Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Panel Meeting was held October 7, 2021 at 9:00AM. The meeting was held via Webex. To listen to the audio recording of the meeting see the link in the Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Panel Meeting Recording Archive section shown above. An attendee link was not created for this meeting. This was an oversight.
The second Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Panel Meeting was held September 1, 2021 at 9:00AM. The meeting was held via Webex. To listen to the audio recording of the meeting see the link in the Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Panel Meeting Recording Archive section shown above.
Event address for attendees: https://covaconf.
Date and time: Wednesday, September 1, 2021 9:00 am Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 161 640 8376
Event password: DOLI2021
Audio conference: To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the event, or call the number below and enter the access code.
US Toll Free +1-866-692-4530
US Toll +1-517-466-2023
Access code: 161 640 8376
The first Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Panel Meeting was held August 11, 2021 at 9:00AM. The meeting was held via Webex. To listen to the audio recording of the meeting see the link in the Heat Illness Prevention Advisory Panel Meeting Recording Archive section shown above.
Event address for attendees: https://covaconf.webex.com/covaconf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e55ef419dc880546f1d5a57c2a8ef8fda
Date and time: Wednesday, August 11, 2021 9:00 am Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 161 637 0628
Event password: DOLI2021
Audio conference: To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the event, or call the number below and enter the access code.
US Toll Free +1-866-692-4530
US Toll +1-517-466-2023
Access code: 161 637 0628
Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.02.21
Celanese Corporation – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.03.21
Virginia Poultry Federation – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.04.21
Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.08.21
Associated General Contractors of Virginia – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.08.21
Virginia Agribusiness Council – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.09.21
Virginia Wineries Association and the Virginia Vineyards Association – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.09.21
Carol-Parker – Public Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.09.21
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.09.21
Virginia Automotive Association – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 06.10.21
Virginia Loggers Association – Comments Regarding NOIRA for Heat Illness Prevention Standard 11.22.21