On April 10, 2026, OSHA issued a revised National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, replacing the version first issued in 2022. The program is effective immediately and will remain in place for five years.1
Heat-related stress and illness often remain a top concern across a number of industries, particularly during the summer season. In fact, the NEP states that “OSHA’s heat-related inspections have accounted for 6% of all federal-level agency inspections in the past five years. That’s an increase from 0.5% over the five-year period that preceded the 2022 NEP.”2
According to OSHA’s media release announcing the NEP, “Ensuring that employers take the steps needed to safeguard workers is essential, and this updated National Emphasis allows OSHA to better focus its outreach, compliance assistance, and enforcement efforts in high-risk industries and promote effective prevention practices.”3
Although the OSHA heat NEP is not a formal OSHA standard, it helps direct how compliance officers conduct inspections and issue citations related to heat hazards.
What is the Goal of the OSHA Heat NEP 2026?
The NEP tells OSHA compliance officers when and where to focus enforcement related to heat exposure, and is “intended to encourage early interventions by employers to prevent illnesses and deaths among workers during high heat conditions, such as working outdoors in a local area experiencing a heat wave, as announced by the National Weather Service.”4
It authorizes both programmed inspections (planned inspections in targeted industries) and unprogrammed inspections based on complaints, referrals, hospitalizations, fatalities, or visible heat hazards observed on site.4
Why Did OSHA Revise the Heat NEP?
By revising and continuing the Heat NEP, OSHA aims to “ensure that employees in high-hazard industries are protected from heat-related hazards, both indoors and outdoors, that may lead to serious illnesses, injuries, or death.”4
OSHA revised the NEP to help:
- Update enforcement priorities
- Clarify inspection procedures
- Improve consistency in citations
- Formalize how heat programs are evaluated
What are the Key Changes to the OSHA NEP as of April 2026?
1. Updated List of Targeted Industries
Compared to the previous Heat NEP issued in 2022, this 2026 update resulted in 46 target industries removed, 22 industries added, and 33 industries retained, for a total of 55 target industries.4
Construction industries identified as being likely to have heat-related hazards include:4
- Residential building construction
- Nonresidential building construction
- Highway, street, and bridge construction
- Utility system construction
- Foundation and building exterior contractors
- Specialty trade contractors
Additional industries listed in the NEP that may be likely to have heat-related hazards include Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, and Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services.
2. Removal of the Numerical Inspection Goal
The 2022 NEP included a defined goal to increase heat inspections compared to prior years. The revised NEP removes that numerical target.
Instead, OSHA now uses:
- Current injury and illness data
- Local weather conditions
- Prior enforcement history
This change allows OSHA 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.”1
3. Continued Random Inspections on Heat Advisory Days
The revised NEP confirms that OSHA compliance officers may conduct random inspections in targeted industries on days when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or heat warning.4
On these days, officers may:
- Open a heat-related inspection without a complaint
- Expand an unrelated inspection if heat hazards are observed
- Document heat index, humidity, wind, workload, clothing, and rest practices
For construction sites, this means heat controls should be in place and functioning whenever elevated temperatures are forecast.
What are some additional updates to the OSHA Heat NEP?
Additional revisions made to the OSHA Heat NEP as of April 2026 compared to the original version include:
- Reorganized and Added Appendix I: Evaluation of a Heat Program
- Reorganized and Added Appendix J: Citation Guidance
- Added coding for Worksite Assistance
- Added coding for Unprogrammed Emphasis Hazards
Considerations for Safety Managers and Employers
The revised NEP does not change the basic elements of heat stress protection, but in light of the updated NEP, safety managers and employers may want to consider:
- Reviewing heat stress protection plans against Appendix I criteria
- Making efforts to ensure water, shade, and rest practices are consistently available
- Documenting acclimatization and daily heat planning
- Training supervisors to recognize and respond to heat illness
- Monitoring weather forecasts and prepare for heat advisory days
PPE Solutions for Worker Heat Stress
In addition, PPE that helps to reduce heat stress may help enhance worker safety in conditions where outdoor heat stress is a concern. Innovative solutions that may be considered include:
- MSA V-Gard C1® Hard Hat: The patented ReflectIR™ Thermal Barrier technology helps keep the inside of the hard hat up to 20°F cooler in sunny conditions. The moisture-wicking sweat band with breathable foam padding helps provide additional comfort and sweat management, while the larger brim helps provide sun and shade protection.
- MSA V-Gard® Cooling Pads: Both the Crown cooler and Crown cooler with neck shade (UPF 50+) feature HyperKewl™ evaporative cooling fabric to help provide extended relief from heat fatigue and heat stress.
Looking for more safety tips and information to help enhance heat stress compliance? Check out more resources, including Prepare for Seasonal Heat Stress: The OSHA NEP and Tips for Employers, which includes details around the original OSHA Heat NEP issued in April 22 and extended until April 2026, and What to Consider When Choosing Heat Stress PPE: Design Features and Materials.
Sources:
Recommended for You
