Bill > S1367

This bill establishes comprehensive protections for public sector outdoor workers against heat-related illnesses by requiring the Department of Labor Standards to create regulations that protect employees exposed to excessive heat. The bill defines key terms like "heat-related illness" (a serious medical condition resulting from the body's inability to manage heat) and "heat stress" (the combined environmental and physical factors that increase body temperature), and mandates that public employers develop written heat illness prevention plans that include specific protective measures. These plans must cover initial and ongoing heat exposure monitoring, providing potable water, paid rest breaks, access to shade or cool areas, emergency response protocols, employee acclimatization, administrative heat exposure controls, annual employee training, record-keeping, and supervisor-specific training. Critically, the bill also prohibits discrimination or retaliation against employees who report heat-related health concerns. The regulations must be adopted by January 1, 2027, with public employers given six months after adoption to comply, and the Attorney General will be responsible for enforcing these new workplace safety standards. The goal is to proactively prevent potentially dangerous heat-related health risks for outdoor workers in the public sector.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1367