Nevada OSHA Heat Illness Regulation: 2026 Employer Planning Guide

This guide is educational. It is not legal, medical, or safety advice. The approved regulation and current Nevada OSHA guidance control.

Read the Official Sources First

• Approved Regulation R131-24
• Nevada OSHA guidance for R131-24
• Nevada OSHA updates and enforcement guidance

The regulation was filed on November 15, 2024. Nevada OSHA's 2025 guidance announced enforcement beginning April 29, 2025. Later guidance may change agency practices, so check for updates.

Confirm Whether the Written Program Requirements Apply

Nevada OSHA guidance connects the regulation's written-program provisions to employers required to maintain a written safety program. The guidance generally identifies employers with more than 10 employees.

The same guidance says other employers still must protect workers from recognized hazards. Employer size does not make heat risk disappear. Confirm the current rule and your coverage.

The Job Hazard Analysis Uses Multiple Conditions

The approved regulation defines occupational heat exposure through working conditions that create a reasonable likelihood of heat illness. It lists factors that include:

• air temperature and relative humidity;
• radiant heat and conductive heat;
• air movement;
• workload severity and duration; and
• protective clothing and PPE.

The regulation does not reduce this analysis to one universal temperature. Review the actual task before it is first performed and when the task materially changes.

Address Identified Hazards in the Safety Program

When the analysis identifies occupational heat exposure, the regulation describes program duties. These include a designated person, emergency coordination, controls, training, monitoring, and response to signs of possible heat illness.

Use Nevada OSHA's current guidance and audit materials for the exact required elements. A clothing purchase cannot replace the rest of the program.

How to Review Workwear

Because protective clothing and PPE appear in the heat analysis, review apparel as part of the complete system. Start with hazards that require high-visibility, arc-rated, chemical, cut, or other protection.

1. Record the employer-selected product and required classification.
2. Compare fabric, construction, fit, ventilation, care, and layering information.
3. Review decoration with the garment manufacturer.
4. Document approved products, sizes, substitutions, and care instructions.
5. Put availability, pricing, and timing in the written proposal.

Bighorn's Role

Bighorn can quote apparel options and request available product documents through selected production partners. The employer and safety lead remain responsible for the hazard analysis, program, controls, training, product selection, and final approval.