The federal heat illness prevention rule first proposed in August 2024 has stalled. There is no target date for a final rule. But on April 10, 2026, OSHA renewed its Heat National Emphasis Program for another five years, keeping enforcement active. Best practice remains a written heat plan, water available throughout the shift, paid rest breaks in shade, monitoring for symptoms, and a 14-day acclimatization period for new and returning workers. Several states already require these by law.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.