By The Restoration HQ desk · · filed under Regulation & Standards
Regulators tighten the screws: OSHA heat NEP extended, EPA RRP penalties go live
OSHA extended its Heat National Emphasis Program for five more years (April 10, 2026) on top of a proposed federal heat standard requiring written plans and acclimatization. Separately, EPA's tightened RRP lead rule began enforcing penalties Jan 12, 2026, now sweeping in property managers, with fines up to $40K per violation.
FORGet your heat plan and lead-safe cert squared away now and you turn compliance into a sales point with carriers and big property managers.
AGAINSTMore paperwork and more ways to get fined, dumped on small shops that are already short on crews and time.
Consensus vs. contrarianContrarian: RRP enforcement on property managers means your commercial PM clients now need a certified partner, so the rule that looks like a cost is actually a referral wedge.
Sources OSHA heat proposed-rule fact sheet, www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publication… Contractor Mag on 2026 OSHA changes, www.contractormag.com/management/best-practi… EPA RRP enforcement, www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-arti…