A public interest group involved in health and safety issues has petitioned OSHA to draft a permanent standard to protect workers from heat illness, as well as an emergency temporary standard to offer immediate protections as the permanent rule is drafted. But sources say it is unclear whether the agency has the resources to undertake such an intensive rulemaking at this time, given its limited standard-setting resources. Public Citizen filed the 50-page petition (see related document) with the agency on Sept. 1, saying the number of heat-related illnesses and deaths over the years, as well as
December 30, 2025