Does your state require a heat illness plan today?
Five states require a written heat illness prevention plan with their own trigger temperatures: California and Washington measure air temperature, Oregon and Maryland measure the heat index, and Nevada uses a hazard analysis with no fixed temperature. Enter your state and today's conditions to see whether your rule applies right now and exactly what it requires.
Pick your state and enter the temperature to see whether your heat rule applies and what it requires. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
This calculator applies the written heat-rule triggers for the states it lists. It is a planning aid, not legal advice, and it does not replace a competent person’s judgment on site.
Water and emergency-response duties are generally unconditional; only some duties turn on a temperature.
State-plan states may set stricter requirements than the federal rule. Confirm against the standard that applies to your work before relying on a number here.
Common questions
▸At what temperature do heat illness rules kick in?
It depends on the state and on which duty you mean. Drinking water is the one to watch: in California it has no temperature trigger at all, so water is required whenever crews are working outdoors, and the 80°F figure applies to shade. California and Washington measure air temperature; Oregon and Maryland measure the heat index. Washington has two action levels, 80°F generally and 52°F for crews in nonbreathable or vapor-barrier clothing. High-heat procedures start at 95°F in California and 90°F in Oregon, Washington and Maryland. Nevada has no temperature trigger anywhere: every covered employer must do a written hazard analysis regardless of how hot it gets.
▸What is the heat index and why does it matter?
The heat index combines air temperature and humidity into how hot it actually feels to the body. States like Oregon and Maryland trigger their rules on the heat index, so 88°F with high humidity can cross the 90°F high-heat threshold even though the thermometer reads under 90.
▸Do I need a written plan even if my state has no rule?
There is no federal written-plan mandate yet, but OSHA can cite excessive heat under the General Duty Clause and inspects proactively under its heat National Emphasis Program. A written plan is how you show an inspector, a GC, or an insurer that your program exists.
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