Bill > H2172

This bill introduces comprehensive protections for public sector outdoor workers against heat-related illnesses by requiring employers to develop and implement detailed heat illness prevention plans. The bill defines key terms like "heat-related illness" (a serious medical condition resulting from the body's inability to regulate heat) and "heat stress" (the combined environmental and physical factors that increase body temperature). The Department of Labor Standards will be responsible for creating regulations that establish outdoor heat exposure levels and monitoring compliance. Public employers must create written prevention plans in a language understood by employees, which must include specific procedures such as monitoring workplace heat exposures, providing potable water, offering paid rest breaks and shade, implementing emergency response protocols, acclimatizing workers, conducting annual training, maintaining records of heat-related illnesses, and providing specialized training for supervisors. Importantly, the bill also mandates that employers adopt policies protecting employees from discrimination or retaliation if they report heat-related health concerns. The regulations must be adopted by January 1, 2027, with a six-month implementation period, and will be enforced by the attorney general, ultimately aiming to protect outdoor public sector workers from potentially dangerous heat-related health risks.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2172