The revised Heat National Emphasis Program (NEP), relaunched on April 10, 2026, represents a major shift in how OSHA handles heat-related enforcement. This isn’t just a renewal of the 2022 program; it is a full five-year directive (running through 2031) that gives inspectors more power to enter workplaces without a prior complaint.
OSHA no longer waits for a heatwave to act. The program defines a Heat Priority Day as any day where the heat index reaches 80°F or higher