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Let's Take a Break: New Penalties for Failure to Follow California's "Heat Illness Prevention" Statute


Summer "officially" started as of last Saturday, and with the start of the season, warmer temperatures are around the corner.  As a result, it is important for employers (and employees) in California to be mindful of some of the important laws regarding working conditions in extreme heat, and the new penalties that have been put in place for failure to adhere to these laws.

Under California’s Heat Illness Prevention statute, Title 8 Section 3395(d), employers are required to provide training and access to shade and adequate drinking water for employees who work outdoors in high heat conditions.  When the outdoor temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit, California OSHA mandates a recovery period of not less than 5 minutes for employees who work outside to take a cool-down rest, in the shade, to protect themselves from overheating.  However, it is important to note that prior California OSHA Board decisions and Standard Board committee notes have refused to characterize these cool down periods as work-free breaks.  As a result, employers are likely allowed to require employees to continue working during periods when they are in shade or air conditioned locations.

One of the new laws that came into effect on January 1, 2014 amended California Labor Code Section 226.7 and now imposes a fine against employers that do not provide employees with these rest periods.  Employers that do not provide these breaks will now have to pay employees one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of compensation for each workday that the rest or recovery period is not provided.  

Employers need to be mindful of this recent change to the law and ensure that their work procedures are mindful of these required breaks. 

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