Senate Republicans Send Letter to Department of Labor on OSHA Heat Rule

On March 11, a group of 16 Republican senators sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer raising concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) proposed rule on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.

The letter, led by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), acknowledges the importance of protecting workers from heat-related hazards. Lawmakers noted that OSHA already addresses heat risks through enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act's General Duty Clause and through its National Emphasis Program on heat hazards, which has resulted in more than 7,000 federal inspections and over 1,300 hazard alert letters.

The senators raised a number of questions about the proposed rule issued in 2024, and said they are concerned the proposed regulation could create compliance challenges for certain industries and workplaces, particularly those with mobile workforces or varying work environments. The senators also questioned how the rule would apply to workplaces that do not fit clearly into indoor or outdoor categories.

The lawmakers urged the Department of Labor to consider these concerns as OSHA continues the rulemaking process and evaluates feedback from employers, workers, and other stakeholders.

The proposed OSHA heat standard remains under review as the agency continues to evaluate comments and next steps in the regulatory process.