The U.S. Department of Labor plans to revisit several major workplace rules this year, including OSHA’s proposed standard for protecting employees from heat hazards in indoor and outdoor workplaces.

OSHA expects to issue a supplemental proposal by December, signaling that significant changes may be coming after employers raised concerns that the original rule was overly prescriptive and failed to account for differences among workplaces.

“Manufacturers should not assume the heat rule has stalled,” said Jacob Sargent, director of public policy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “A revised proposal could still create significant new compliance obligations for indoor and outdoor workplaces, so employers should continue strengthening heat-safety programs while watching closely for what OSHA changes.”

The department’s broader regulatory agenda also includes potential updates involving lockout/tagout, independent-contractor classifications and child-labor rules. 7/14/2026