OSHA · Free course
Heat & Cold Stress
How to recognize, prevent, and respond to temperature-related illness on the job: the environmental and personal risk factors, the signs and first aid for each…
OSHA
Heat & Cold Stress
What you’ll learn
By the end of this course.
Explain how the body gains and loses heat and identify the environmental and personal risk factors for heat stress — General Duty Clause, OSH Act 5(a)(1)
Recognize the signs, symptoms, and first aid for heat rash, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, and treat heat stroke as a 911 medical emergency — OSH Act 5(a)(1); OSHA Heat Illness Prevention guidance
Apply the core prevention controls — water, rest, shade, and gradual acclimatization for new and returning workers — OSHA "Water. Rest. Shade."; NIOSH Criteria (DHHS 2016-106)
Describe the employer's duty to provide potable drinking water and how much and how often to drink in the heat — 29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(i) / 1926.51(a)
Recognize cold-stress illnesses — hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot — their warning signs, and their controls — OSHA Cold Stress guidance; OSH Act 5(a)(1)
Apply your role: hydrate, watch yourself and coworkers with the buddy system, report early symptoms, and act on the emergency plan — General Duty Clause, OSH Act 5(a)(1)
References & standards
Grounded in the source material.
- OSH Act Section 5(a)(1) — General Duty Clause (29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1))
- OSHA Heat Illness Prevention — "Water. Rest. Shade."
- NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments (DHHS 2016-106)
- 29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1) — Sanitation: potable drinking water (general industry)
- 29 CFR 1926.51 — Sanitation: drinking water (construction)
- OSHA Cold Stress guidance (Winter Weather)
This is awareness training. It supports your program; it is not a substitute for site-specific procedures or hands-on competency where a standard requires it.
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