New regulations protecting indoor workers from extreme indoor heat have taken effect in California. 

The rules went into place on July 24, and cover the majority of indoor workplaces in the state, ranging from warehouses and manufacturing facilities to restaurants and refineries. Moving forward, when temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers in California have to institute a series of protections to keep workers safe from heat-related illnesses. That includes access to potable water, rest periods, designated cooldown areas, and additional training on working in warm conditions. When temperatures hit 87 degrees, employers must actively cool down work areas, implement work/rest schedules, and provide personal heat protection equipment. 

“This regulation provides protections for workers across California and helps prepare employers to deal with the challenges of rising temperatures in indoor environments,” said California's Occupational Health and Safety (Cal/OSHA) Chief Debra Lee.

California is now one of three states that have heat protections in place for indoor facilities, joining Oregon and Minnesota. The new rules cover roughly 1.4 million workers in the state, but exclude correctional facilities, which will be covered in separate standalone regulations sometime in the coming months.