{"id":9507,"date":"2025-04-02T12:30:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oshadefensereport.com\/?p=9507"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:32:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T17:32:51","slug":"new-mexico-becomes-the-latest-state-to-propose-heat-illness-prevention-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/osha-defense-report\/new-mexico-becomes-the-latest-state-to-propose-heat-illness-prevention-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico Becomes the Latest State to Propose Heat Illness Prevention Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Hema Steele<\/a> and Beeta Lashkari<\/a><\/p>\n

On March 13, 2025, the New Mexico Environment Department\u2019s (NMED) Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHS Bureau) petitioned the state\u2019s Environmental Improvement Board (EI Board) to adopt a proposed rule<\/a> to address occupational heat hazards, particularly where the heat index equals or exceeds 80\u00b0F.<\/p>\n

The American southwest is among the fastest warming regions in the United States, and Acting Occupational Health and Safety Bureau Chief Kristy Peck confirmed that \u201cNew Mexico is both hotter and dryer than in years past.\u201d\u00a0 In 2024 alone, the state\u2019s health department reported more than 800 heat-related emergency room visits.\u00a0 As a result, New Mexico now seeks to regulate employers to ensure employees are protected from the hazards associated with hot working conditions.<\/p>\n

The goal of the proposed rule is to prevent heat illnesses and secondary injuries caused by heat exposure (e.g., falls due to heat-induced dizziness). \u00a0As such, it will cover all indoor and outdoor workplaces already subject to the state\u2019s health and safety standards for general industry, construction, agriculture, and convenience stores, with limited exemptions for incidental heat exposures, emergency response operations, telework sites, and mechanically ventilated work areas.<\/p>\n

The proposed rule describes employers\u2019 responsibilities related to heat exposure assessments; control measures; training; recordkeeping; and implementation of a heat illness and injury prevention plan (HIIP Plan).<\/p>\n

Heat Assessments<\/strong>. When the heat index is 80\u00b0F or higher, employers will be required to conduct a heat exposure assessment by analyzing, among other things: exposure to direct sunlight, intensity of the work, acclimatization of each employee, and the heat-retaining effects of required clothing and PPE.<\/p>\n

Control Measures<\/strong>. When the heat index is 80\u00b0F or higher, employers will need to acclimatize employees, provide fluids and cooling areas, provide paid rest breaks, and monitor heat illness symptoms.<\/p>\n

Training<\/strong>. Employers will be required to train employees (upon hiring, then annually) on:<\/p>\n