Workplace Heat Standards Require Adequate Shade and Timely Breaks
Guidelines mandate shaded rest areas and scheduled cool-down periods when temperatures reach 90 degrees.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jul 28, 2026
Outdoor employers must ensure field workers have direct access to adequate shade and structured rest breaks to prevent heat-related illnesses on the job.
Under safety guidelines, shaded areas must be situated as close to the workplace as possible and large enough to comfortably accommodate all on-duty workers during breaks. Shaded zones must also be kept clear of radiant heat sources and other uncomfortable conditions that might discourage employee use. Additionally, workers are instructed to remove personal protective equipment during these cool-down periods to allow their bodies to regulate temperature efficiently.
Mandatory rest schedules vary based on ambient temperatures:
- At 90 degrees Fahrenheit and above, workers must receive at least 10 minutes of rest every two hours.
- At 100 degrees Fahrenheit and above, mandatory rest increases to 15 minutes every hour.
Preventive cool-down periods in shaded zones remain crucial to reducing occupational heat stress and ensuring employee health throughout extreme weather conditions.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.