--- title: "OSHA's 2026 Heat Emphasis Program: What It Means for You" description: "OSHA revised its Heat National Emphasis Program on April 10, 2026. See what changed, which industries it covers, and what to do before an inspector visits." url: https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/osha-heat-emphasis-program-2026 publisher: JMAR Solutions phone: +1-214-632-7780 quote: https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/contact --- Heat rules # OSHA's 2026 Heat Emphasis Program: What It Means for You OSHA revised its Heat National Emphasis Program on April 10, 2026. It directs inspections to 55 high-risk industries, adds random inspections on days with an NWS heat advisory or warning, and runs five years. The program guides inspections. It is not a heat standard. Published October 6, 20264 min read ## 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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/osha-heat-nep) 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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/osha-heat-rules) 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. Change What OSHA said Industry list Uses OSHA and Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022 to 2025 to point inspections at 55 high-risk industries Old background Removed outdated background information and updated links Inspection goal Eliminated the former numerical inspection goal Appendices Added two reorganized appendices, one for evaluating heat programs and one for citation guidance Duration Effective immediately and in place for five years after the effective date 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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/houston-humidity-heat-index-jobsite). ## 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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/industry-hydration-solutions) 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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heat-illness-prevention-plan). 2. Train supervisors and crews, and keep the sign-in sheets. 3. Follow an [acclimatization schedule](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-acclimatization-schedule) for new and returning workers. 4. Set up a cool-down area. See our [setup guide](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/jobsite-cool-down-area-setup). 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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/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](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/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. Record Why it helps Written heat illness prevention plan Shows you planned for the hazard Training sign-in sheets Shows who was trained and when Acclimatization cards for new and returning workers Shows you protected the highest-risk workers Heat-day logs Shows what you did on advisory days Water, rest, and shade checklists Shows controls were in place Incident and near-miss notes Shows you learned from events ## 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](https://calendly.com/jen-jmarsolutions/15-min-meeting) or ask for a [free sample](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/free-sample). ## Frequently asked questions ### What does the OSHA heat National Emphasis Program do? It points OSHA's inspection and outreach resources at industries and workplaces where heat stress risks are most likely. OSHA says it covers 55 high-risk industries and uses OSHA and Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022 through 2025. ### Is the National Emphasis Program the same as a heat rule? No. It is an enforcement directive. It guides where OSHA inspects. The heat rule is a separate proposal that is not final as of November 2026. Until a final rule exists, OSHA cites heat hazards under the General Duty Clause. ### Can a small business get help before an inspection? Yes. OSHA says its On-Site Consultation Program is a free and confidential health and safety consulting program for small and medium-sized businesses. It can help employers build a strategy for heat-related illness. ## Terms on this page - [Heat illness prevention plan](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heat-illness-prevention-plan) - [On-site consultation](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/on-site-consultation) - [Acclimatization](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/acclimatization) - [Heat stroke](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heat-stroke) - [Hydration](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/hydration) ## Sources 1. [OSHA: US Department of Labor updates national emphasis program to protect workers from indoor, outdoor heat hazards](https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20260410) 2. [OSHA: US Department of Labor updates national emphasis program to protect workers from indoor, outdoor heat hazards](https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20260410) 3. [OSHA: US Department of Labor updates national emphasis program to protect workers from indoor, outdoor heat hazards](https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20260410) 4. [OSHA: US Department of Labor updates national emphasis program to protect workers from indoor, outdoor heat hazards](https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20260410) 5. [OSHA: Heat, Overview: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments](https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure) 6. [OSHA: Heat, Water. Rest. Shade.](https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/water-rest-shade) 7. [OSHA: Heat, Overview: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments](https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure) Checked against the sources above on October 6, 2026. Rules and guidance change, so check the linked page before you act. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. ## Keep reading - [OSHA heat rules: what applies to your crew todayAs of November 2026, OSHA has no final federal heat standard. A heat rule is proposed, not in force. OSHA enforces heat hazards today under the General Duty Clause and its Heat National Emphasis Program, revised April 10, 2026. Texas has no state heat standard, and HB 2127 ended local water-break rules.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/osha-heat-rules) - [What OSHA expects on heat illness prevention todayAs of November 2026, there is no final federal OSHA heat standard. The proposed rule is still in rulemaking. OSHA enforces heat hazards today under the General Duty Clause and its revised Heat National Emphasis Program, effective April 10, 2026. Employers should write a heat plan, train crews, give water, rest and shade, and acclimatize new workers.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/osha-heat-illness-prevention) - [A heat acclimatization schedule for new and returning workersNIOSH says to build heat tolerance over 7 to 14 days. New workers do no more than 20% of the usual time in the heat on day 1, then add no more than 20% each day. Experienced workers can do 50%, 60%, 80%, then 100% on days 1 through 4. Cut the time, not the work intensity.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-acclimatization-schedule) - [Texas heat rules for employers, as of November 2026As of November 2026, Texas has no state heat standard, and there is no final federal OSHA heat standard. Texas HB 2127 ended local water-break rules in Austin and Dallas. Federal OSHA still enforces heat hazards under the General Duty Clause and a revised Heat National Emphasis Program from April 10, 2026.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/texas-heat-rules-for-employers) - [Houston Humidity: Why 96F Feels Like 121F on a JobsiteHumidity slows sweat evaporation, so Houston heat feels hotter than the thermometer says. The National Weather Service gives an example: 96F at 65% humidity feels like 121F. NWS Houston/Galveston issues a heat advisory at a heat index of 108F, so crews should plan around heat index, not air temperature.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/houston-humidity-heat-index-jobsite) - [How to Set Up a Jobsite Cool-Down Area (Water, Rest, Shade)A cool-down area gives crews water, rest, and shade in one place near the work. OSHA says water should be cool and easy to reach, breaks should grow longer as heat stress rises, and shade can be a tent, a building, or an air-conditioned vehicle. Set it up before the shift starts.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/jobsite-cool-down-area-setup) ![Ironworkers silhouetted on a steel frame against a hot orange sunset](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/_astro/sunset-steel.IhAMDca0_6wk53.webp) ## See it on your crew in 15 minutes Jennifer walks your safety team through the drops, the protocol and the numbers on a short live call. [Book a 15-minute demo](https://calendly.com/jen-jmarsolutions/15-min-meeting)