News of the Day April 13, 2026
OSHA Updates National Emphasis Program on Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards

Last Friday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its National Emphasis Program that protects workers from outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards to direct agency resources where they can make the biggest impact – focusing inspections and outreach in industries and workplaces where heat stress risks are most likely to occur.

Originally issued in April 2022, the revised National Emphasis Program – Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards uses OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics data from calendar years 2022-2025 to direct inspection priorities to 55 high-risk industries in indoor and outdoor work settings.

Through this data, OSHA identified industries with high rates of heat-related illness and industries with employers that have received heat-related citations or hazard alert letters. The revised emphasis program removes outdated background information, updates links, and eliminates the former numerical inspection goal and introduces two reorganized appendices, one for evaluating heat programs and another for citation guidance. The update also includes clearer guidance that will improve tracking and more effectively implement the program’s enforcement and outreach efforts.

Compliance officers will continue to conduct outreach and compliance assistance and expand any inspection where there is evidence of heat-related hazards on heat priority days. Additionally, compliance officers 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.

The revised National Emphasis Program is effective immediately and will be in place for five years after the effective date.