1. A. An employer shall provide for acclimatization of exposed employees for a period of up to 14 days:

   1. (1) When an employee is newly exposed to heat in the workplace; and
   2. (2) When an employee returns to work after 7 or more consecutive days of absence from the workplace.

2. B. An employer shall monitor employees during the acclimatization period for signs of heat-related illness through regular communication via:

   1. (1) Phone or radio;
   2. (2) A buddy system; or
   3. (3) Other effective means of observation.

3. C. An employer shall develop and implement an acclimatization schedule which complies with one of the following:

   1. (1) A schedule which gradually increases exposure time over a 5—14 day period, with a maximum 20 percent increase each day;
   2. (2) A schedule which uses the current National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s recommendations for acclimatization; or
   3. (3) A schedule which uses a combination of gradual introduction and alternative cooling and control measures that acclimate an employee to the heat.

4. D. The acclimatization schedule shall be in writing and consider the following elements:

   1. (1) Acclimated and unacclimated employees;
   2. (2) The environmental conditions and anticipated workload;
   3. (3) The impact of required clothing and personal protective equipment to the heat burden on employees;
   4. (4) The personal risk factors that put an employee at a higher risk of heat-related illness;
   5. (5) Re-acclimatizing employees as necessary, in accordance with §A of this regulation; and
   6. (6) The use of alternative cooling and control measures.

Authority: Labor and Employment Article, §§2-106(b)(5) and 5-1201(b), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: January 16, 1984 (11:1 Md. R. 43)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 09.12.32C to 09.12.32 (13:11 Md. R. 1272)

Chapter revised effective November 28, 1988 (15:24 Md. R. 2768)

Regulations 01-.16 under 09.12.32 Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Standard for Occupational Exposure to Lead in Construction Work, repealed effective March 28, 1994 (21:6 Md. R. 466)

New Regulations .01—.10 under Heat Stress Standards adopted effective September 30, 2024 (51:19 Md. R. 854)