Where the rule stands
- OSHA publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on heat.
- OSHA publishes the proposed rule, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings (89 FR 70698).
- The written comment period closes, after an extension.
- An informal public hearing is held.
- The extended post-hearing comment period closes (90 FR 46110).
- No final rule has been published. A proposal can change before it is finalized, or not be finalized at all.
What applies today
- The General Duty Clause. Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act requires employers to keep the workplace free of recognized serious hazards. OSHA cites heat hazards under it today, without a heat standard.
- OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on heat. Directive CPL 03-00-024, updated on April 10, 2026, directs inspections at heat-related hazards in targeted industries, indoors and out, alongside outreach and compliance assistance.
- State rules. Some State Plan states have their own heat standards. If you work in one, check its rules as well.
What the proposal would require
In summary, and only if it is finalized as proposed. The proposed regulatory text is linked in the sources below.
Who it would apply to
Employers with outdoor or indoor work in general industry, construction, maritime and agriculture, where OSHA has jurisdiction, with some exceptions.
What employers would do
- Have a heat injury and illness prevention plan, and name one or more heat safety coordinators.
- Identify heat hazards: track the heat index for outdoor work, from forecasts or on-site measurement, and monitor indoor areas where heat may be a hazard.
- Have a heat illness and emergency response plan.
- Train employees and supervisors.
- Keep records.
At the initial heat trigger: a heat index of 80°F
- Drinking water and break areas with shade or cooling.
- Acclimatization for new and returning workers. Exposure would be limited to 50% of a normal shift on the first day, 60% on the second and 80% on the third.
At the high heat trigger: a heat index of 90°F
- A paid rest break of at least 15 minutes, at least every two hours, in the break area.
- Watching employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness.
By when
Not yet. Compliance dates would be set by a final rule, counted from the day it is published.
Where Migna fits
Migna does not make you compliant with any rule, and the proposal is not in effect. These are the tools in the product today that help a safety lead run a heat program and keep the record of it.
| Part of a heat program | In Migna today |
|---|---|
| Knowing the heat at each site | The heat index and its band for every job site, with the forecast, and National Weather Service heat advisories for the site. Every tier |
| Alerts when the heat rises | Set a heat index threshold for each site. When the site crosses into that band, the people you choose for that site are alerted by email or in-app; conditions are checked every 15 minutes. Text alerts are an add-on. Every tier |
| Water, rest and shade | Each heat band in the app carries guidance on water, work-rest cycles, shade, a buddy system and acclimatization. The free heat index & work-rest tool gives a work-rest cycle for moderate work. Every tier, and free |
| Training | Training and certification records with expiry reminders, scheduled sessions with email reminders, and short courses taken from a QR code, with an optional quiz. Every tier |
| Toolbox talks | Record a heat toolbox talk and who signed off on it. The AI add-on drafts the talk in English or Spanish for you to edit. Every tier; drafting with the AI add-on |
| Signs in the field | Crews report heat concerns as safety observations by scanning a site QR code, with no login. Every tier |
| Fixing what you find | Corrective actions with an owner and due date, raised from an observation or an audit, with reminders and escalation when overdue. Every tier |
What Migna does not do
It does not write your heat plan or name your coordinators, measure wet bulb globe temperature on site, or decide whether your program meets a rule. It shows the heat, alerts on the thresholds you set, and keeps the record of what you did about it. A qualified person decides the rest.
Questions
Is OSHA's heat rule in effect?
No. It is a proposed rule. OSHA published the proposal on August 30, 2024, held a public hearing in June and July 2025, and closed the last comment period on October 30, 2025. As of 2026-10-06 no final rule has been published, so none of its requirements apply yet and there is no compliance date.
Can OSHA cite an employer for heat hazards without a heat standard?
Yes. OSHA enforces heat hazards today under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, which requires employers to keep the workplace free of recognized serious hazards. Its National Emphasis Program on heat, updated on April 10, 2026, directs inspections at heat-related hazards in targeted industries. Some State Plan states have their own heat rules, so check yours.
When will the heat rule be final?
OSHA has not published a date. A proposed rule can change before it is finalized, or not be finalized at all. If a final rule is published, it will carry its own effective and compliance dates.
Does using Migna mean we meet the heat rule?
No. No software can do that for you. Migna is a recordkeeping and planning tool: it shows heat conditions at each job site, alerts on the thresholds you set, and keeps your training, toolbox talks, observations and corrective actions in one place. Your qualified safety person decides what your program needs.
Is the heat index and work-rest calculator free?
Yes. It is free with no signup. Enter the temperature and humidity, choose sun or shade, and it gives the heat index and a work-rest cycle based on the National Weather Service heat index and OSHA-NIOSH guidance for moderate work.
Check today’s heat, then see the rest.
The heat tool is free with no signup. The live demo is a working copy of Migna loaded with a fictional 40-person contractor, with weather for each of its sites. It resets nightly.
Sources
- OSHA, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Rulemaking. https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking
- Federal Register, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, proposed rule, 89 FR 70698, August 30, 2024. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/30/2024-14824/heat-injury-and-illness-prevention-in-outdoor-and-indoor-work-settings
- OSHA, proposed regulatory text (heat triggers, rest breaks, acclimatization). https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/Heat-NPRM-Final-Reg-Text.pdf
- U.S. Department of Labor, news release: public comment period extended to January 14, 2025 (December 2, 2024). https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20241202
- Federal Register, proposed rule; extension of post-hearing comment period to October 30, 2025, 90 FR 46110, September 25, 2025. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/25/2025-18670/heat-injury-and-illness-prevention-in-outdoor-and-indoor-work-settings
- Federal Register, advance notice of proposed rulemaking, October 27, 2021. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/10/27/2021-23250/heat-injury-and-illness-prevention-in-outdoor-and-indoor-work-settings
- OSHA, CPL 03-00-024, National Emphasis Program: Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards (updated April 10, 2026). https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-03-00-024-0
- OSHA, Heat: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments. https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure
Status checked as of 2026-10-06. Rules change; read the current text at osha.gov and federalregister.gov before you act on it.