By Andrea Chavez and Rachel Conn
On November 15, 2024, Nevada adopted a heat-illness regulation (R131-24AP) designed to protect workers from rising temperatures. Nevada’s new regulation reflects a growing trend among states implementing measures to protect workers from heat illness. In July 2024, California introduced an indoor heat illness regulation, building on its long-standing outdoor heat illness requirements. For more details on the California regulation, check out our blog post.
The new Nevada regulation requires employers to conduct a job hazard analysis, maintain a written safety program, implement emergency response procedures, and provide worker training.
The regulation does not apply to employees working indoors or in vehicles with effective climate control systems. If the climate control system becomes non-functional, employers must make good-faith efforts to restore functionality promptly. Until restored, interim measures must address potential heat illness hazards.
According to the Division of Industrial Relations, it will publish employer guidance on its website, and the Division’s Safety Consultation and Training Section will develop and post training courses on it’s website in the coming weeks. The regulation became effective upon filing by the Nevada Secretary of State. Enforcement of the regulation will begin 90 days from the publication of the guidance.1
The regulation applies to employers with more than 10 employees and establishes requirements to mitigate heat illness risks. Key provisions include: Continue reading