Heat Awareness
Campaign
Heat season is here — and so is OSHA. The 2026 Heat National Emphasis Program (NEP CPL 03-00-024) is active. Every supervisor, crew member, and employee must be equipped with the knowledge and tools to work safely in the heat. This portal contains everything you need.
from heat (2021–2024)
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mandatory protocols
Under NEP CPL 03-00-024 (effective April 10, 2026), OSHA compliance officers conduct programmed inspections on any day the NWS issues a heat advisory or warning. They will also stop outdoor sites observed while traveling. Have your Heat Stress Mitigation Plan, acclimatization records, OSHA 300 logs, and HSR posting ready every day.
2026 Heat Season Launch — Campaign Message
From: EHS Department | To: All Supervisors, Crew Members & Employees | Date: May 2026
As temperatures begin to climb across our jobsites, it is time once again to launch our annual Heat Awareness Campaign. This year carries added importance — OSHA issued a revised National Emphasis Program (NEP) for heat-related hazards in April 2026, and our company safety program has been fully updated to match. Please read this message carefully and share it with your teams.
With heat indices already approaching and exceeding 80°F across our work locations, heat season is underway. This is not the time to ease into it. The body’s response to heat is cumulative — the danger builds over days, and it is highest in the first two weeks for anyone new to the heat, returning from time off, or new to our sites.
OSHA’s 2026 updated Heat NEP (CPL 03-00-024, effective April 10, 2026) directs compliance officers to conduct on-site inspections on any day the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or warning for the local area. They may also stop and initiate inspections of outdoor worksites they observe while traveling. From now through November, that means any day could be an inspection day.
WHAT IS NEW THIS YEAR
We have made meaningful updates to our heat safety program based on the new NEP requirements. Every supervisor and crew member should be aware of the following changes:
Every facility and active jobsite must have a named HSR before work begins on any heat priority day (HI ≥ 80°F). HSR name and contact must be posted at the worksite.
All new hires, employees returning after 7+ days absent, and ALL temp/agency workers must follow the formal 14-day schedule. Employee Acclimatization Tracking Forms required.
Furnaces, boilers, steam lines, process vessels, and confined spaces are all covered under the 2026 NEP. Same protections apply as outdoors.
Defined mandatory responses for Heat Priority Day, Heat Advisory, Extreme Heat Watch, and Extreme Heat Warning — built into the new Heat Stress Mitigation Plan.
ACTION ITEMS — Complete These Now
EVERYONE HAS A ROLE
Supervisors — you are the first line of defense. Recognizing early signs of heat stress, enforcing rest and hydration schedules, and closely watching new and returning workers are your most important responsibilities this time of year.
All employees — do not wait until you feel sick to say something. Dizziness, headache, nausea, unusual fatigue, and stopping sweating are all warning signs. Speak up early, and watch out for the person next to you. You have the right to report heat concerns without fear of retaliation.
Our goal remains what it has always been: every employee returns home in the same condition they arrived in.
Heat Safety Week — Toolbox Talks
May 18–22, 2026Select a daily toolbox talk below. Each talk includes the full safety content, a meeting roster with digital signatures, and a print option. All five meetings should be completed by end of week — our goal is 100% compliance.
Annual Heat Stress Awareness Training
Required AnnuallyComplete the full 5-module training covering heat illness recognition, prevention, the 2026 OSHA NEP, and acclimatization requirements. A score of 8/10 is required on the knowledge check. Digital acknowledgment and certificate are generated upon completion.
Resources & Reference Documents
2026 UpdatedOSHA Heat NEP 2026
CPL 03-00-024 — National Emphasis Program for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards. Effective April 10, 2026.
📥 Download Full NEP PDF📰 OSHA 2026 NEP Press Release ↗Policy 2.19 Rev 5
I&I Heat Stress Management Policy — fully updated to match 2026 NEP requirements including HSR, acclimatization, and indoor heat sections.
📥 Download PDF ↗Acclimatization Form
Employee Heat Acclimatization Tracking Form — required for all new hires, returning workers (7+ days absent), and all temp/agency workers.
📥 Download PDF ↗Heat Stress Mitigation Plan
Rev 2 — Must be completed before work begins on any heat priority day (HI ≥ 80°F). Includes daily heat index tracking log.
📥 Download PDF ↗HSR Poster
Designated Heat Safety Representative poster — must be posted at the worksite on all heat priority days with HSR name and contact.
📥 Download PDF ↗Toolbox Talk PowerPoint & Quiz
Full Heat Stress Awareness Toolbox Talk PowerPoint presentation and awareness quiz for use in crew safety meetings.
📥 Download Toolbox Talk📥 Download Quiz 🎓 Open Training Tab →OSHA Heat Illness Prevention
OSHA’s main heat illness prevention campaign page — fact sheets, training materials, and compliance resources.
osha.gov/heat ↗OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety App
Free smartphone app — check current and forecasted heat index for your exact location before work begins each day.
Download App ↗OSHA Heat Prevention Video
OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention video — appropriate for crew toolbox talks and safety meetings.
Watch on YouTube ↗National Integrated Heat Health
Heat.gov — federal resource for extreme heat information, forecasts, alerts, and community heat risk tools.
heat.gov ↗NWS Heat Safety
National Weather Service heat safety page — current heat advisories, heat index forecasts, and safety guidance.
weather.gov/safety/heat ↗Power Breezer Cooling Systems
Industrial evaporative cooling solutions for outdoor worksites — effective for Level III and IV heat conditions.
powerbreezer.com ↗OSHA Fact Sheet: Hydration
OSHA guidance on keeping workers well-hydrated during heat-exposed work.
Download PDF ↗Heat in Confined Spaces
OSHA guidance on heat protection in confined spaces — boilers, vessels, excavations, foundations.
osha.gov ↗Tracking training completion, toolbox talks, and program compliance across all activities.
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