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ADOSH heat inspection: what inspectors look at and how to prepare

Checked against Arizona’s published heat guidance on Oct 29, 2026 · By Anchor Point Apps · Not legal advice

ADOSH’s heat emphasis program targets high-heat days and high-hazard industries. Here’s what we can verify about how inspections work, and a practical records checklist.

When inspections happen

The updated SEP (CPL 03-00-024, effective April 9, 2026) says programmed inspections shall occur on any day that the National Weather Service has announced a heat warning or advisory for the local area. Establishments are chosen from lists of industries known to have heat-related incidents (the directive’s Appendix A), using neutral selection criteria. Any heat-related severe injury report can also start an inspection. Complaints are another route: the Arizona Farm Bureau says ADOSH notifies the employer and requests a written response unless the complaint alleges imminent danger.

What inspectors review

ADOSH publishes a heat inspection form (listed on the ADOSH heat page). The Arizona Farm Bureau’s 2026 guide summarizes what officers check:

• The heat index at the time of inspection (often from the National Weather Service)
• Your written plan: customized, signed, dated, updated
• Water: quantity, temperature, location, replenishment
• Shade: adequacy, accessibility, distance from the work, hazards
• Training records: sign-in sheets, materials, dates, topics, names
• Acclimatization records for new and returning workers
• Employee interviews: do workers know they can take a break in the shade, and what training did they get?
• Adjusted schedules during heat events, and OSHA 300 logs of heat-related injuries and illnesses

A records checklist (our advice)

1. One current plan, signed and dated, with the name of the person responsible.
2. A training roster for every crew member and supervisor, with date, topics, trainer and language used.
3. An acclimatization log for new hires and anyone returning from leave or from indoor work.
4. A simple water and shade check, done and initialed each day on hot days.
5. A note of which heat-monitoring tool you use and what you do at each risk level.
6. For subcontractors, a copy of their plan, or a note that you asked for it.

The most common failure we expect isn’t having no plan; it’s a plan nobody on the crew has seen. Inspectors interview workers, so what the crew actually knows matters as much as the paper.

Your rights during an inspection are a legal question. Talk to an attorney or ADOSH’s free consultation program before an inspection happens, not during one.

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Quick answers

Not legal advice. Not a government site. Heatplan AZ is an independent project of Anchor Point Apps LLC. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Industrial Commission of Arizona, ADOSH, OSHA, or any other government agency. Nothing here is legal or safety-engineering advice, and using a plan, checklist or guide doesn’t guarantee compliance, a clean inspection, or any outcome. Talk to a qualified safety professional or attorney about your operation.