OSHA Heat Rule Gets More Comment Time

OSHA has extended until Oct. 30, 2025 the comment period for its proposed heat injury prevention rule which covers employer requirements for safety plans, hydration, acclimatization, and employee training.
Last summer, OSHA released the text of its proposed heat rule, which was officially published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2024. An informal public hearing on OSHA’s Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule was then held from June 16 through July 2, 2025. To date, the Agency has received more than 43,000 comments on the proposed rule.
The rule applies to all employers and activates when the heat index hits 80°F for more than 15 minutes during any 60-minute period — termed the “initial heat trigger.” At 90°F, the “high heat trigger” introduces additional requirements.
As this proposed rule is in the final stages of the rulemaking process, and in light of OSHA’s interest in proceeding expeditiously with this rulemaking, Chief Administrative Law Judge Steven Henley issued an order granting an extension of 30 days.
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking feedback on two pilot programs intended to increase flexibility for truck drivers who must comply with federal rest requirements.
The programs would change hours-of-service requirements by splitting drivers’ 10-hour off-duty, sleeper berth period into combinations, including six/four and five/five.
Also, it would pause the 14-hour on-duty period for no less than 30 minutes and no more than three hours.
Participation in both programs is limited to 256 drivers. Drivers of passenger-carrying trucks wouldn’t be eligible for the split-duty pilot, which the agency believes “provides the flexibility to take extra rest, avoid driving during traffic congestion and mitigate the impacts of unreasonable ‘detention times,’ thereby improving the working conditions of America’s truck drivers.”
Comments on the programs are due Nov. 17, with “protocol development” set to begin early next year.
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OSHA is holding an online webinar on Work Zone Traffic Safety Planning for Supervisors, on Oct. 8 at 1 pm ET.
The one-hour program is designed for anyone involved in projects with traveling equipment, personnel, or machinery.
Participants will gain practical skills in developing and implementing internal traffic control plans, supported by real-world examples.
Key components include BLS injury statistics, a customizable internal traffic control plan template, and resources designed to promote a culture of traffic safety within organizations.
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Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is offering an OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Course on Oct. 8–9 at the Valdosta Campus.
The training is designed to help workers identify, avoid, and prevent safety and health hazards in the workplace.
Participants who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10 certification card, valid for three years.
The program is designed for employees, supervisors, and managers across a variety of industries seeking to strengthen workplace safety knowledge and compliance.
The course will be held from 8 am to 1:30 pm on Oct. 8–9. The cost is $220 per person.
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