OSHA's 2026 Heat Emphasis Program: What It Means for You

What is OSHA’s Heat National Emphasis Program?

It is an enforcement plan that tells OSHA where to look for heat hazards. The Heat National Emphasis Program first came out in April 2022. OSHA revised it on April 10, 2026. It is not a heat standard.

This post is not legal advice. As of November 2026, there is no final federal heat rule. See our OSHA heat rules pillar for the full picture.

What changed in the April 2026 revision?

OSHA made the program simpler and kept its reach. The agency’s news release lists the changes. The table sums them up.

OSHA also says the update brings “clearer guidance that will improve tracking” of enforcement and outreach.

When will inspectors show up?

Two situations matter. First, compliance officers expand any inspection where there is evidence of heat hazards on heat priority days. Second, they will “conduct random inspections focused on heat hazards in high-risk industries on days when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or warning.”

So a heat advisory day is a day to expect a visit. Watch NWS alerts, and run your full heat plan on those days. In Texas, check your local office’s criteria. See our post on Houston heat alert criteria.

Which industries does it cover?

OSHA says the program covers 55 high-risk industries, indoors and outdoors. OSHA’s heat page lists examples where workers have suffered heat illness. Outdoors it names agriculture, construction (especially road and roofing), landscaping, mail and package delivery, and oil and gas well operations.

Indoors it names bakeries and kitchens, electrical utilities, the fire service, iron and steel mills and foundries, manufacturing with hot local heat sources, and warehousing. Find your exact industry list in the directive itself. Our industry hydration pages cover construction, warehousing, and manufacturing crews.

What will an inspector look for?

OSHA’s release says one appendix is for evaluating heat programs. We did not read the full directive, so we do not list its checklist. Plan for these basics, which OSHA’s heat page names as core prevention: water, rest, and shade. OSHA “encourages water, rest, and shade as prevention as well as treatment for heat-related illness.”

Keep proof on file. Good proof includes your written plan, training sign-in sheets, acclimatization records for new hires, and notes on heat-day actions.

What should an employer do now?

Run this short check before your next heat advisory.

1. Write or update your heat illness prevention plan.
2. Train supervisors and crews, and keep the sign-in sheets.
3. Follow an acclimatization schedule for new and returning workers.
4. Set up a cool-down area. See our setup guide.
5. Track heat alerts, and log what you did each alert day.
6. Name a person who calls 911 and starts cooling for heat stroke.

Small and medium-sized businesses can use OSHA’s free and confidential On-Site Consultation Program. Learn the term in our glossary entry on On-Site Consultation.

Where does a hydration program fit?

Hydration is part of the water part of the plan. OSHA says crews working two hours or more need fluids with electrolytes in addition to water. JMAR Solutions builds hydration programs with onsite toolbox talks and training for high-risk crews.

Rapid Restoration Drops are a dietary supplement. They replace electrolytes lost in sweat and support hydration. They are not a substitute for a written heat plan or for emergency care.

What records should you keep ready?

Keep records that show your plan in action. They help in an inspection, and they help you manage heat day to day. The table lists useful records.

What is a 30-day prep plan?

You do not need months to get ready. Use four weeks.

1. Week 1: Write or update the plan. Name owners.
2. Week 2: Train supervisors. Set up shade and water standards.
3. Week 3: Train crews. Start acclimatization cards for new hires.
4. Week 4: Run a drill. Test the 911 steps. Fix gaps.

Review the plan again each spring before the hot months begin.

Does the program apply to small crews?

Yes. The program targets industries, not company size. A five-person crew in a listed industry can get a visit on a heat advisory day. That is why the On-Site Consultation Program matters. OSHA calls it free and confidential for small and medium-sized businesses. Use it before an inspection, not after.

Next step

Want your heat plan and training records ready before an advisory day? Book a 15-minute demo or ask for a free sample.