Maryland's New Heat Standard Is in Effect
A new standard developed by Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) is intended to prevent heat illness among workers in the state. The regulation was recently published in the Maryland Register and went into effect on Monday, Sept. 30. The standard applies to both indoor and outdoor workplaces where employees are exposed to a heat index of 80 F or higher. Certain emergency operations and essential services are exempt from the standard, and the regulation does not apply in spaces that have a mechanical ventilation system or fan that keeps the heat index below 80 F. The standard also does not apply to incidental exposures, which MOSH describes as instances “when an employee is not required to perform work activities for more than 15 consecutive minutes per hour.”
According to the Maryland Department of Labor, the regulation will be incorporated into the Code of Maryland Regulations as a new chapter titled “Heat Stress Standards.” The standard includes requirements related to heat illness prevention and management plans, acclimatization, access to shade and drinking water, emergency response, and training. Also outlined in the regulation are high-heat procedures, which employers are required to implement when the workplace reaches a heat index of 90 F or higher.
“The high-heat procedures shall include a work and rest schedule to protect employees from heat-related illness that is adjusted for environmental conditions, workload, and impact of required clothing or personal protective equipment,” the standard (PDF) states.
Maryland joins a few other states—California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington—that have standards for heat exposure. Each state standard is different; for example, Minnesota’s standard applies to indoor workplaces, while Washington’s focuses on outdoor heat exposure. Federal OSHA provides a list of heat standards in specific states on its safety and health topic page for heat. Maryland’s new standard is not yet listed, but a PDF of the regulation can be found on the website of the Maryland Department of Labor.
Federal OSHA’s heat rulemaking process is ongoing. The official version of its new proposed rule, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 30, and the public comment period is open until Dec. 30, 2024. Learn more about federal OSHA’s heat rulemaking and how to comment by visiting the agency’s website.