Cal/OSHA Warns Employers as Early Heat Wave Hits California
State safety officials are urging employers to take precautions as above-average temperatures move across California, reminding workplaces to provide water, shade, rest breaks and training to prevent heat illness.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Mar 12, 2026
California workplace safety officials are urging employers to take steps to protect workers from heat illness as temperatures across the state rise above seasonal averages this week.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) said employees may not yet be acclimatized to warmer conditions during one of the first heat waves of the year, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.
A heat advisory has been issued for Southern California for Thursday and Friday by the National Weather Service. Inland areas in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties are expected to reach temperatures in the 90s, while coastal areas could see highs in the mid-80s. Parts of Northern California are also forecast to experience elevated temperatures through next week.
Cal/OSHA reminded employers that heat illness can be serious and potentially deadly and that state regulations require protection for both indoor and outdoor workers.
Under California’s heat illness prevention standards, employers must provide water, rest breaks and shade for outdoor workers. Shade must be available when temperatures reach 80 degrees, and additional protections are required in certain industries when temperatures reach 95 degrees or higher.
Indoor workplaces such as restaurants, warehouses and manufacturing facilities must also take steps to protect workers when temperatures reach 82 degrees. Requirements include providing drinking water, cool-down areas, rest breaks and worker training.
Employers must also maintain written heat-illness prevention plans and train supervisors to recognize the symptoms of heat illness and respond to emergencies.
Cal/OSHA said it will continue enforcement and outreach through its Heat Illness Prevention program, which provides training materials and resources for employers and workers across the state.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.