Heat Illness Prevention
In California, employers must take steps to protect outdoor workers from heat illness with water, rest, shade and training. Heat illness prevention training is required for all outdoor workers and a written prevention plan must be available at all outdoor worksites.
Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention regulation applies to all outdoor places of employment such as those in the agriculture, construction, and landscaping industries.
A heat illness prevention regulation for indoor places of employment is currently being developed.

California employers are required to take these four steps to prevent heat illness:
- Training
Train all employees and supervisors about heat illness prevention.
- Water
Provide enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour, or four 8 ounce glasses, of water per hour, and encourage them to do so.
- Shade
Provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
- Planning
Develop and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standard.

The HIP Network is a voluntary public/private partnership established to increase both employers' and employees' awareness of the hazard of heat illness and the importance of heat illness prevention measures to prevent fatalities and serious illnesses in California workplaces.
HIP Network members work together to help prevent heat illness in workplaces throughout California in partnership with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) by providing timely and essential information to employers and employees.
To join the HIP Network, email HIPNetwork@dir.ca.gov.
Heat Illness Prevention Training – for Employers with Outdoor Workers
Class | Date/Time | Location | Language | Register |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heat Illness Prevention |
Thursday, September 28, 2023 9:00 am - 10:30 am |
Virtual webinar | English | Registration Link |
Prevención de Enfermedades por Calor |
Jueves, 28 de septiembre de 2023 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
Seminario web | Spanish | Enlace de registro |
Education, Training Resources and Publications
Webinars
- Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) Network Calls
- Webinar on Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention requirements (44.35 min. duration)
For Employers:
-
Heat Illness Prevention Training Materials 2023
English | español | Chinese Simplified - Heat Illness Prevention enforcement Q&A 2018
- Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Heat Illness Prevention etool
- Employer Sample Procedures for Heat Illness Prevention (also in → MS Word )
- Health effects of Heat posters:
- Cal/OSHA guidance on the new requirements, May 14, 2015
*Not an accessible version.
For Workers:
- Pocket Guide: Protect Yourself from Heat Illness (English & Español)
- Heat Safety Fact Sheet (English)
- File a health & safety complaint (English)
- Additional heat illness prevention resources
More CAL/OSHA Resources:
- 99 Calor campaign page
Contains materials available for download including Heat Illness Prevention videos and discussion guides in multiple languages.
- Videos and guides available in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Hmong and Mixteco
Outreach and Education Campaign
- 99 Calor Heat Illness Prevention Campaign
- Final Performance and Evaluation Report on the Heat Illness Prevention Campaign - 2012
- Final Performance and Evaluation Report on the Heat Illness Prevention Campaign - 2010
Heat Illness Prevention Standard
Read the Heat Illness Prevention standard found in the California Code of Regulations, title 8:
Additional Heat Illness Links
- FedOSHA Quick Card: Protecting Workers from Heat Stress
- National Weather Service: California Information
- Centers for Disease Control: Heat Stress
- Centers for Disease Control: Tips for preventing heat-related illness