What does California Title 8 Section 3395 require employers to do?

Cal/OSHA Title 8 §3395 requires employers with outdoor workers to provide fresh water (1 quart per hour per employee), shade when temperatures reach 80°F, paid cool-down rest periods, acclimatization procedures for new and returning workers, high-heat procedures when temperatures reach 95°F, and emergency response plans. Employers must maintain a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan and make it available to workers in the field.

Does California require employers to track worker acclimatization individually?

Yes. Cal/OSHA §3395 requires close observation of all employees during their first 10 to 14 days in heat, including new hires, employees returning after a week or more away, and those moved to hotter work areas. Documented monitoring of each worker's acclimatization status is part of a compliant Heat Illness Prevention Plan.

What are California's indoor heat illness prevention requirements under Section 3396?

California's indoor heat illness prevention regulation (Title 8 §3396), effective July 2024, applies when indoor temperatures reach 82°F. Employers must implement a written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan, provide water and cool-down areas, monitor temperature and humidity, establish acclimatization procedures, and have emergency response protocols. Additional requirements — including engineering controls — apply when indoor temperatures reach 87°F.

How much can Cal/OSHA fine an employer for heat illness prevention violations?

Cal/OSHA serious violations related to heat illness prevention can result in penalties up to $25,000 per violation. Willful or repeat violations can reach over $158,000 per violation. Heat illness prevention is one of Cal/OSHA's highest enforcement priorities, with citations issued for inadequate water, missing shade, undocumented acclimatization procedures, and recordkeeping failures.

What is required in a California Heat Illness Prevention Plan?

A California Heat Illness Prevention Plan under §3395 must include: procedures for providing water and shade, a high-heat procedures section (for temperatures at or above 95°F), an acclimatization plan for new and returning workers, emergency response procedures, and employee training requirements. The plan must be in writing, available at the worksite, and provided in the language workers understand.

CALIFORNIA TITLE 8 · SECTIONS 3395 & 3396

California Has the Strictest Heat Illness Prevention Laws in the Country. HeatShield Is Built Around Them.

From outdoor crews working in 80°F heat to indoor workers under the July 2024 §3396 mandate, HeatShield handles the monitoring, acclimatization tracking, documentation, and training that Cal/OSHA requires. For indoor sites, PRO users can connect physical temperature sensors directly to HeatShield for live, hardware-accurate readings.

Aligned with Title 8 §3395 (outdoor) and §3396 (indoor)

Per-worker acclimatization tracking — automated, no hardware required

PRO: Connect physical sensors for live indoor WBGT data — Sensor API Integration

Documented training with certificates of completion

Weekly supervisor review — logged as a tamper-evident compliance record

Start Your Free 7-Day Trial → Try free for 7 days. Only pay if you stay.

WHAT CAL/OSHA REQUIRES

Two Regulations. Both Require Documentation. Both Enforced.

§3395 — Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention

Applies to All Outdoor Places of Employment

California's outdoor heat illness prevention standard covers all outdoor workers. Key requirements:

Written Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) — must be maintained on-site and made available to employees and Cal/OSHA inspectors on request
Shade and water — documented provision of shade when temperatures reach 80°F; cool water accessible at all times
High-heat procedures — at 95°F+, mandatory 10-minute preventive cool-down rest periods every 2 hours with documented observation and check-ins
Acclimatization plan — new and returning workers must follow a documented acclimatization schedule; supervisors must observe and respond to symptoms during the acclimatization period
Training — documented training for all employees before beginning work in heat; annual supervisor training on emergency response and heat waves
Emergency response procedures — written and communicated to all workers

§3396 — Indoor Heat Illness Prevention · Effective July 2024

Applies When Indoor Temperatures Reach 82°F or Above

California's indoor heat regulation is new and frequently overlooked. It applies to warehouses, commercial kitchens, laundries, and any indoor workplace where temperatures reach 82°F. Key requirements:

12-month temperature monitoring records — date, time, and location of every temperature reading must be retained for one year
Cool-down areas — access to areas below 82°F when an employee feels heat illness symptoms
High-heat procedures — at 87°F+, additional requirements including documented observation and cool-down periods
Acclimatization — documented plan required for new and returning workers
Training — documented training for all covered employees and supervisors

New — many employers aren't yet aware

Plain-language overview only. Not legal advice. Consult qualified legal counsel for program-specific guidance.

The HeatShield Solution

Every Cal/OSHA Requirement. Mapped to a HeatShield Feature.

Cal/OSHA Requirement	Regulation	How HeatShield Handles It	Documentation Produced
Water & shade access at 80°F	§3395	Automated supervisor alert fires at exactly 80°F — the Cal/OSHA §3395 threshold — with timestamped documentation	Timestamped alert log per site
High-heat procedures at 95°F	§3395	Automatic high-heat alert fires at exactly 95°F — the Cal/OSHA §3395 threshold — with push notification and alert email to supervisor, plus high-heat procedure checklist	High-heat activation log with conditions
Acclimatization monitoring (14-day window)	Both	Per-worker acclimatization status tracked; risk thresholds adjusted accordingly	Worker acclimatization records per site
Supervisor & worker training	Both	Built-in LMS with Cal/OSHA-aligned course; bilingual (EN/ES)	Certificates of completion per employee
Indoor monitoring at 82°F / 87°F	§3396	PRO Sensor API Integration connects physical hardware for live indoor readings; HeatShield fires Tier 1 alerts at exactly 82°F and Tier 2 alerts at exactly 87°F — the §3396 thresholds — and logs every threshold event with timestamp	Indoor monitoring log with timestamped threshold events and sensor data
Written Heat Illness Prevention Plan	Both	Auto-generated compliance documentation for your org and every site	Export-ready PDF for inspection
Emergency response plan access	Both	Response steps surfaced during high-heat events; logged per monitoring session	Emergency procedure acknowledgment log

§3395(e) & §3396 — Acclimatization

The Requirement Most Programs Get Wrong.

Both §3395 and §3396 require close observation of workers during their first 14 days on the job — or returning after more than 5 days away from heat work. Most companies don't track this at all. HeatShield does it automatically, per worker, on every site.

Days

Cal/OSHA requires close supervisor observation for new workers during their first 14 calendar days performing heat work.

Days Off

Workers returning after 5 or more days away from heat exposure must restart the acclimatization observation period.

2×

Higher Risk

Heat illness risk is significantly elevated during the acclimatization window. HeatShield adjusts alert thresholds for at-risk workers automatically.

Per-Worker Status Tracking

Each worker's acclimatization start date is recorded. HeatShield automatically identifies who is in the at-risk observation window at any given time — no spreadsheets required.

Adjusted Risk Thresholds

Heat stress risk scores factor in acclimatization status. Workers in the observation window trigger supervisor alerts at lower thresholds than fully acclimated crew members.

Documented for Inspection

Acclimatization records are stored per worker and exportable as part of your compliance packet — showing Cal/OSHA exactly which workers were in observation, and when the period started and ended.

Automatic Reset on Return

When a worker returns after 5+ days away, HeatShield automatically flags them as re-entering the acclimatization window — with no manual tracking or intervention required from supervisors.

Industries We Serve

If Your Workers Are in the Heat — Outdoor or Indoor — This Applies to You.

🏗️

Construction

General contractors, subcontractors, and specialty trades working outdoor sites across California. §3395 applies to every crew on every active site — and Cal/OSHA enforces it aggressively. HeatShield monitors each jobsite individually, tracks acclimatization for new hires and returning workers, and keeps your documentation inspection-ready.

🌾

Agriculture

Farms, vineyards, orchards, and packing operations. Cal/OSHA's heat enforcement program started in agriculture — your records need to be airtight. HeatShield automates monitoring across multiple field sites, tracks crew acclimatization status, delivers bilingual (EN/ES) training, and produces the documentation your HIPP requires.

🌿

Landscaping & Municipalities

Maintenance crews, installation teams, parks departments, and public works operations running across dozens of locations in high-heat conditions. HeatShield scales to unlimited sites at no extra cost — and tracks acclimatization for seasonal workers who rotate in and out throughout the year.

§3396 — Indoor Heat Monitoring

Indoor Workspaces Are Now Covered — With Different Thresholds Than Outdoor Sites

California's §3396 indoor heat regulation uses a tiered threshold system. HeatShield enforces both the 82°F and 87°F thresholds, escalates alerts to supervisors when either is crossed, and documents every event with a timestamped record — exactly what a Cal/OSHA inspector expects to see.

Unlike outdoor sites — where HeatShield pulls live weather data automatically — indoor monitoring requires an actual temperature reading from inside the facility. That's where the PRO-tier Sensor API Integration comes in: connect physical temperature and humidity hardware to feed live readings directly into HeatShield's WBGT calculation.

✓ 82°F threshold: basic protections logged (water, rest, acclimatization)
✓ 87°F threshold: escalated measures logged with enhanced procedure record
✓ Every threshold event timestamped and tied to the site monitoring record
✓ Configurable per-site — each indoor location managed independently
✓ Acclimatization tracking applies to indoor workers too

82°F

Tier 1 — Protective Measures Required

Water access, cool-down areas & acclimatization monitoring activated

Alert

87°F

Tier 2 — Enhanced Procedures Required

Rest periods, engineering controls & direct supervisor observation

Escalate

Sensor API Integration PRO

Live Hardware Data for Indoor Sites — No Cloud Middleman

Outdoor monitoring pulls weather data automatically. Indoor monitoring needs real temperature and humidity readings from inside the building. With Sensor API Integration, your existing WiFi-capable hardware POSTs readings directly to HeatShield — no third-party cloud relay, no manual data entry.

HeatShield uses the live sensor reading to calculate WBGT and determine threshold status in real time. Admins manage and rotate API keys per site from within the dashboard. The staleness indicator shows when a reading was last received, so you always know the data is fresh.

✓ Works with any WiFi-capable sensor that supports custom HTTP POST endpoints
✓ Per-site API key — issued, managed, and rotatable by admins
✓ Live reading and staleness status displayed in the HeatShield UI
✓ Recommended: Monnit ALTA gateway + temp/humidity sensor — supports custom HTTP push out of the box
✓ Feeds live data into WBGT calculation — no static indoor temp assumptions

Sensor API Integration — PRO

Live Reading

84.2°F / 58% RH

● Live · Updated 42 sec ago

⚠ Threshold Crossed — 82°F

Tier 1 protections required · Supervisor notified

Site API Key

hs_live_••••••••••••••••

Managed by admin · Rotatable anytime

High-Heat Procedures

95°F Triggers the Right Actions Automatically — Every Time

Cal/OSHA §3395(d) requires specific procedures when temperatures hit 95°F: direct supervisor observation, mandatory communication, and preventive cool-down rest breaks. HeatShield automates the trigger, notifies supervisors immediately, and records that the procedure was activated.

✓ Automatically applies Cal/OSHA §3395 thresholds — 80°F for water and shade, 95°F for high-heat procedures — configured from your site's state, no manual setup required
✓ Automatic app alerts to supervisor with a one button click to notify workers via SMS across job sites from a trusted number
✓ Mobile App push notifications with documented timestamps
✓ Every activation logged for your compliance record
✓ Risk level is increase-only — never auto-downgraded without supervisor sign-off

Training & Certification

Cal/OSHA Requires Documented Training. We Handle That Too.

§3395(h) requires both supervisors and employees to be trained before heat season. HeatShield includes a built-in LMS with a Cal/OSHA-aligned heat illness prevention course — tracked, certified, and stored for inspection.

✓ Heat illness prevention training for supervisors and workers
✓ Certificates of completion issued and stored per employee
✓ Training history exportable as part of your compliance packet
✓ Works on any smartphone — no app install required
✓ Training available in English and Spanish

Documentation

What Gets Documented. Automatically. Every Day.

Cal/OSHA doesn't just want to know your procedures exist — they want to see that the procedures ran. HeatShield builds your compliance record in the background, without anyone on your team having to fill out a single form.

📋

Every monitoring event

Date, time, site, temperature, heat index, WBGT score, and risk level — logged automatically for every check-in

🔔

Every alert sent

Recipient, channel (SMS/push), delivery status, and triggering condition — documented at the moment it's sent

🌡️

Every threshold crossed

80°F, 82°F, 87°F, 95°F — each event timestamped and tied to a specific site and monitoring record

👷

Worker acclimatization status

Who was in the 14-day window, when it started, and how risk alerts were adjusted for at-risk workers

🎓

Training completions

Employee name, course, completion date, and certificate of completion — stored per worker, exportable on demand

📄

Compliance packet export

One-click PDF covering your full monitoring, alert, acclimatization, and training history — formatted for Cal/OSHA inspection

Frequently Asked Questions

What Safety Managers Ask Before Starting a Trial

Does HeatShield cover both §3395 (outdoor) and §3396 (indoor)?

Yes. HeatShield is built around both Cal/OSHA regulations. For outdoor sites (§3395), it pulls live weather data automatically and monitors against the 80°F water/shade threshold and 95°F high-heat procedure trigger. For indoor sites (§3396), HeatShield enforces the 82°F and 87°F tiered thresholds and produces the required documentation — and PRO users can connect physical temperature/humidity sensors via the Sensor API Integration for live, hardware-accurate indoor readings that feed directly into the WBGT calculation. Both regulations apply acclimatization tracking. You can configure each site individually as outdoor or indoor.

What is acclimatization and how does HeatShield track it?

Acclimatization is the physical process by which a worker's body adapts to working in heat. Cal/OSHA requires that new employees and workers returning after 5+ days away from heat be closely observed during their first 14 days. HeatShield tracks each worker's acclimatization start date, automatically identifies who is currently in the at-risk window, adjusts alert thresholds for those workers, and produces acclimatization records for your compliance packet. No manual tracking is required.

What does Cal/OSHA actually want to see during an inspection?

Inspectors typically ask for: (1) your written Heat Illness Prevention Plan, (2) evidence that supervisors were trained before heat season, (3) proof that workers were trained before performing heat work, (4) monitoring logs showing conditions were tracked at each site, (5) documentation that high-heat procedures were activated at the correct thresholds, and (6) acclimatization records for new and returning workers. HeatShield produces all of this automatically and stores it in an exportable compliance packet.

How is §3396 different from §3395? Do I need both?

§3395 covers outdoor heat work and has been in effect for years. §3396, effective July 2024, is a new regulation specifically for indoor workplaces — warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing, and any indoor space without adequate air conditioning. The thresholds are different (82°F and 87°F for indoor vs. 80°F and 95°F for outdoor). If your company has both outdoor crews and indoor workers, both regulations apply — and HeatShield handles both from a single account.

We have multiple sites across California. Can HeatShield handle all of them?

Yes. HeatShield supports unlimited job sites on every plan at no extra cost per site. Each site gets its own monitoring schedule, its own alert history, and its own compliance documentation — all accessible from a single account. Outdoor and indoor sites can be mixed freely. Ideal for contractors, ag operations, and municipalities managing many active locations simultaneously.

Do my workers need to download an app or create accounts?

For outdoor monitoring, no hardware or sensors are needed — HeatShield pulls live weather data automatically. For indoor §3396 sites, PRO users can connect physical temperature/humidity sensors via the Sensor API Integration for live, hardware-accurate readings (we recommend the Monnit ALTA series, which supports custom HTTP push out of the box). Without a sensor, indoor site configuration and documentation features are still available. HeatShield is a Progressive Web App — it works in any mobile browser without installation. Workers receive an Organization Code to log in to the Training Portal. No IT setup required.

What is the Sensor API Integration and do I need it for indoor sites?

The Sensor API Integration is a PRO-tier feature that lets you connect physical temperature and humidity hardware directly to HeatShield. Your sensor hardware POSTs live readings to HeatShield's endpoint using a per-site API key — no third-party cloud relay required. HeatShield uses the live reading to calculate WBGT and fire 82°F/87°F threshold alerts in real time. We recommend the Monnit ALTA gateway + temperature/humidity sensor, which supports custom HTTP push with custom headers out of the box. Any WiFi-capable sensor that can POST to a custom HTTP endpoint will work. If your indoor site doesn't use the Sensor API, the compliance framework, threshold documentation, and acclimatization tracking are still fully functional — you just won't have live automated sensor readings feeding the WBGT calculation.

What happens after the free trial?

Your data and records are preserved. You choose a plan and continue uninterrupted, or cancel before the trial ends — no charge if you cancel. (Note: Training certificates of completion are issued only on paid plans.)

PRICING

Plans built for field operations

Annual billing with a 7-day free trial. No charge today.

Core

Structured monitoring for small crews

$ 39 /mo

Billed $468 annually

Unlimited jobsites & monitoring
Automated heat monitoring & risk transitions
Supervisor notifications & escalation
Crew management
Mobile-first PWA experience
Site Groups
12-month data retention
Standard PDF export
10 training seats included*
Standard support
* $10/seat for additional users

Start with 7-Day Free Trial

No charge today (credit card required)

Pro

Extended Records, Reporting, Training & Indoor Sensor API

$ 59 /mo

Billed $708 annually

Everything in Core, plus:
Compliance Packet Downloads
Jobsite Templates
Sensor API Integration Indoor
Incident Reporting
Extended data retention (36 months)
PDF + CSV exports
20 training seats included*
Priority support
* $5/seat for additional users