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California Outdoor Workers: Cal/OSHA 3395 Heat Plan Checklist (Construction)
A supervisor-ready checklist built around the headings of California’s outdoor heat standard (Title 8 §3395): water, shade, high-heat procedures, acclimatization, emergency response, and training. Use it to brief a crew and to sanity-check your written plan, then pair the triggers with GOES digital WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) and live heat-risk scores when conditions on the slab, deck, or roof are worse than the forecast.
Not legal advice. This page is a plain-language summary of publicly available Cal/OSHA heat-illness prevention requirements and general OSHA / NIOSH-style practice. It is not a substitute for the current regulation text, your written Heat Illness Prevention Plan, or counsel. Verify requirements at Cal/OSHA’s heat illness page.
Why it matters
California heat is not just the Central Valley
Construction crews work in very different heat across the state: Central Valley and Inland Empire summers regularly pass 100°F, desert communities like Palm Springs run hotter still, and coastal sites can swing from mild to dangerous when a heat wave pushes inland air to the coast. Steel decks, concrete flatwork, asphalt paving, and roofing add radiant heat that a regional forecast does not show.
Cal/OSHA’s outdoor heat standard applies to outdoor places of employment, construction included, and is built on four ideas: provide water, provide shade, take extra steps in high heat, and be ready for emergencies, all documented in a written plan. This page turns those ideas into a one-page crew checklist.
Summary of the structure of Title 8 §3395 as described in public Cal/OSHA materials. Check the current text for exact thresholds and exceptions.
Printable
Cal/OSHA 3395 jobsite checklist
Check these before the shift and again when it heats up. Print this section for the trailer or gang box.
- Written Heat Illness Prevention PlanPlan is written, in English and the language most workers understand, and accessible at the site to employees and Cal/OSHA representatives on request. It names who is responsible and covers water, shade, high-heat procedures, acclimatization, emergency response, and training.
- Drinking waterFresh, pure, suitably cool water free of charge and located as close as practicable to where people work. Plan for at least 1 quart per worker per hour for the whole shift, or a system to replenish it. Encourage frequent small drinks. Include multi-level and spread-out jobs, not just the trailer.
- ShadeWhen the temperature reaches 80°F, shade must be present and large enough for the workers on recovery or rest breaks, open to the air or cooled, and not blocked by tools or materials. Below 80°F shade or another cooling measure must be available on request. Workers may take a preventative cool-down rest of at least 5 minutes and should not be ordered back to work until symptoms are gone.
- High-heat procedures at 95°FEnsure effective communication so workers can reach a supervisor; observe workers for alertness and heat illness signs, with a supervisor or a buddy system; remind everyone to drink water; and hold pre-shift meetings about high-heat precautions and cool-down rests. Review the current regulation for any additional requirements that apply to your operation.
- AcclimatizationNew crew members and anyone returning after time away need closer observation, especially during the first days of working in heat. Pay extra attention during heat waves, when temperatures jump at least 10°F above recent averages. Pair new hires with an experienced buddy.
- Emergency responseKnow who calls 911, how to give clear directions to the site (cross streets, gate entry, floor or laydown area), and how to reach a supervisor without cell coverage. Never leave a symptomatic worker alone. Provide first aid and cooling while waiting for EMS.
- Training for workers and supervisorsBefore anyone works in heat: the risk factors, how water, shade, and rest work, how to report symptoms, how to contact EMS, and the plan’s acclimatization steps. Supervisors also train on the procedures they follow and what to do when a worker shows symptoms. Keep sign-in records.
Operations
Heat trigger table
Triggers below combine the Cal/OSHA 80°F and 95°F thresholds with common OSHA / NIOSH heat-awareness practice. Where your program uses WBGT, escalate the same controls when GOES digital WBGT / live heat-risk scores move into the next band, not only when the air temperature hits a round number. Not a regulatory substitute.
| Temperature (approx.) | Risk band | Suggested controls |
|---|---|---|
| Below 80°F | Caution | Water available and close; shade or another cooling measure on request; pre-shift reminder about symptoms and stop-work authority. |
| 80–94°F | High | Shade up and sized for the crew on break; water staged on each work level; encourage cool-down rests; watch new and returning workers. |
| 95–104°F | Very high | High-heat procedures: observation by supervisor or buddy, water reminders, pre-shift heat meeting, clear way to reach a supervisor; shift heavy tasks to cooler hours. |
| 105°F+ or heat wave | Extreme | Maximum controls; shorten work cycles, stage EMS information, and consider pausing hot-surface work (roofing, paving, steel) where feasible. |
Measure conditions at the worksite; slabs, roofs, and pavement run hotter than the forecast. Wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) accounts for humidity, sun, and air movement. Pair these triggers with GOES digital WBGT when you need a live score.
California context
Local / regulatory note (high level)
California is a state-plan OSHA state, and Cal/OSHA enforces Title 8 §3395 for outdoor work. Indoor workplaces are covered separately by §3396. Employers are expected to maintain a written plan and apply it on every hot shift, including temporary and multi-employer worksites. General contractors and subcontractors should agree on who supplies water and shade at shared sites.
The rules and thresholds can change, so confirm the current regulation text and any industry-specific provisions before you rely on this page.
General awareness only: not legal advice and not a compliance guarantee. Verify current Cal/OSHA requirements for your jobs.
Jobsite kit
Heat gear (partner links TBD)
Common items California construction crews stage for heat season. Search links are generic; swap in affiliate tags later — no invented IDs or prices here.
- Cooling towels / neck wraps Amazon search Partner link TBD — lightweight cool-downs between property stops.
- Pop-up shade canopies Amazon search Partner link TBD — weight the legs on open slabs and graded lots; reset as the work moves.
- Insulated water coolers / jugs Amazon search Partner link TBD — keep water cool in every truck and at the workface.
- WBGT / heat-index meters Amazon search Partner link TBD — worksite readings beat the phone forecast alone.
- Electrolyte packets (sugar-conscious options) Amazon search Partner link TBD — water first; electrolytes for long hot shifts.
- Sun sleeves / wide-brim hats Amazon search Partner link TBD — sun protection without trapping extra heat when you can choose lighter options.
Powered by GOES digital WBGT
Get live California WBGT / heat-risk scores
A checklist sets the plan. GOES delivers digital WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) and live heat-risk scores for California construction crews — so you escalate water–rest–shade from a jobsite-relevant heat metric that accounts for humidity, sun, and radiant load off slabs, steel, and pavement — plus platform workflows that support documented safety programs.
GOES provides guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical care.
FAQ
Quick answers for California construction crews
At what temperature does Cal/OSHA require shade?
Shade must be present at 80°F and above, with enough capacity for workers on a recovery or rest break. Below 80°F, shade or another cooling measure must be available on request. Confirm the details in the current regulation.
What changes at 95°F?
High-heat procedures apply: closer observation of workers, water reminders, effective communication with a supervisor, and pre-shift meetings on heat precautions. Check the regulation text for the full list that applies to your operation.
Does this page make us compliant with Cal/OSHA?
No. It is an educational checklist. Compliance depends on your written plan, training records, and what you actually do on site. Use your safety lead or counsel for the formal plan.
Our crew starts at 6 a.m. Do we still need all this?
Yes. Early starts help, but heat builds fast on slabs and roofs and many shifts run into the afternoon. Keep water, shade, and cool-down rests ready, and escalate when GOES digital WBGT or your worksite reading moves into the next band.
How does GOES digital WBGT fit with this checklist?
HeatReady Guides give you a static plan to brief. GOES adds digital WBGT and live heat-risk scores so California crews can match checklist triggers to today’s conditions. See goes.health and goes.health/platform.