OSHA Heat Log: What to Record on a Hot Workday

Does OSHA require this heat log?

A daily heat log is an operational record, not an OSHA certificate. As checked September 5, 2026, OSHA still describes its federal heat rule as proposed. Existing duties and applicable state standards must be considered separately. A completed template cannot, by itself, establish compliance or show that workers were protected.

HeatProof Log recommends documenting what happened at the jobsite: which conditions the supervisor checked, which precautions were actually available, and what changed during the shift. This is our practical documentation workflow, not an official OSHA form or a universal legal checklist.

Start with a record someone else can understand

Create a separate entry for each jobsite and shift. Include the date, site address, supervisor, crew or work area, task and time of each observation. Identify whether the reading came from a weather forecast, a phone app or an onsite instrument. Record its units. Do not label an air-temperature reading as heat index or WBGT.

Describe the work rather than relying only on a trade name. For example, distinguish roof tear-off from ground-level staging, or spray painting inside an enclosure from exterior trim work. Add relevant changes in sun exposure, work intensity, clothing or equipment so the next supervisor can understand the context.

Record actions, exceptions and handoffs

Use fields for drinking-water availability, the recovery location, planned check-ins and the person responsible. Enter completed actions at the time they occur. If a planned precaution was unavailable, describe the correction and when it was made; do not simply check the box.

At a shift handoff, identify unresolved items and assign an owner. Preserve the original entry when correcting a mistake, with the correction date and reason. Keep sensitive employee medical information out of a broadly shared crew log and use the appropriate confidential process for incidents.

FAQ: Is a heat log the same as an OSHA injury log?

No. This suggested daily operations record is separate from OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping. If an incident occurs, evaluate the applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements separately. A daily check-in does not replace those obligations.

FAQ: How often should we make an entry?

Set the schedule through your site-specific prevention program and applicable rules. As an editorial workflow, use a starting entry, entries when conditions or controls change, and a shift-end review. Never postpone protective action to finish paperwork.