Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, DOL NEWS—OSHA announces two new resources regarding heat illness, (Jun 6, 2025)

By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.

One is a fact sheet aimed at young workers, and another is a customizable conversation guide for employers.

OSHA has just announced its development of two new education resources for employers and workers. The first one is specifically related to young workers and heat illness. The second is a “conversation guide” related to “heat emergencies.”

Young workers. In the first resource—a fact sheet highlighting young workers and heat illness—OSHA describes the important precautions young workers should take before starting their work in the heat, as well as what to look out for on the job. According to data from the CDC, young workers experience higher rates of job-related injury than older workers—workers under the age of 25 are twice as likely to be injured at work than older workers, the fact sheet notes.

The fact sheet identifies common jobs in which young workers might be exposed to hazardous heat, such as outdoor entertainment venue work and outdoor recreation and education work. It also describes the symptoms of heat illness, first aid steps, keys for prevention, and a description of what employers should do with regard to safety.

Conversation guide. The second resource—the Safety in Five on Heat Emergencies —is a short customizable conversation guide for employers, managers, or supervisors to review with workers. It is described as a five-step, five-minute conversation, such as toolbox talks, safety huddles, and daily dispatch briefings, that employers can have with workers “to plan and remind each other about the necessary actions to take in the event of a heat emergency.” The five identified steps are: explaining why it matters; telling workers what they need to know about the signs and symptoms of heat emergencies and how to get help; explaining to workers what they can do, such as hydrating, taking breaks, and following the buddy system; talking about it and asking questions to “lock in knowledge;” and telling them how to report a concern.

News: AgencyNews Safety