8 CCR 3395: California Heat Illness Prevention
Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations section 3395 is Cal/OSHA's outdoor heat illness prevention standard. It applies to all outdoor places of employment and requires employers to provide fresh drinking water, access to shade at 80°F, preventative cool-down rest, acclimatization for new and returning workers, high-heat procedures at 95°F, emergency response, training, and a written heat illness prevention plan kept at the worksite. The companion section 3396 covers indoor heat. Failing to have the written plan is one of the most commonly cited parts.
What 8 CCR 3395 requires
- ✓ Fresh, pure, suitably cool drinking water, free, and enough for at least one quart per employee per hour
- ✓ Shade present and open when the temperature exceeds 80°F, and available on request at any temperature
- ✓ Preventative cool-down rest whenever an employee feels the need, at least five minutes in the shade
- ✓ Acclimatization: closely observe new employees and everyone during a heat wave for their first 14 days
- ✓ High-heat procedures at or above 95°F, including observation, reminders, and pre-shift meetings
- ✓ Emergency response procedures and training for supervisors and employees
- ✓ A written heat illness prevention plan, in English and the language of the majority of the crew, kept on site
Who has to comply
Section 3395 applies to all outdoor work in California, with the extra high-heat rules targeting agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas, and transport. If any of your crews work outdoors in California, you need the written plan and the water-shade-rest program behind it, and Cal/OSHA can inspect for it without a complaint under its heat emphasis.
Getting a compliant 3395 plan
TailgateDocs generates a written heat illness prevention plan that meets 8 CCR 3395, with your trigger temperatures, water and shade procedures, acclimatization, high-heat steps, and emergency response, in minutes for $49, with a Spanish version available for your crew.
Common questions
▸Does 8 CCR 3395 require a written plan?
Yes. A written heat illness prevention plan is a specific requirement of the standard, kept at the worksite and available to employees and Cal/OSHA, in English and the language understood by the majority of the crew.
▸What temperature triggers 8 CCR 3395?
Shade must be provided when the temperature exceeds 80°F. High-heat procedures kick in at 95°F. Water, training, and the written plan are required at all times for outdoor work, not just above a threshold.
▸What is the difference between 3395 and 3396?
Section 3395 covers outdoor heat; section 3396, effective 2024, covers indoor workplaces that reach 82°F. A California employer with both indoor and outdoor exposure needs to address both.
Official sources
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