Bill > HB1092

This bill requires the Safety and Health Codes Board to create regulations by May 1, 2027, to protect workers from heat illness, which is defined as a serious medical condition caused by the body's inability to handle heat, including conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These regulations will mandate that employers, defined as entities under the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program, provide essential resources such as water, access to shade or climate-controlled areas, rest breaks, and training on preventing heat illness. Employers will also need to implement specific procedures when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit and establish emergency response plans, though certain emergency service activities and brief heat exposures (under 15 minutes) will be exempt. Workers who experience violations of these regulations can sue employers in court to stop the violation, recover $1,000 in damages for each violation, and receive attorney fees, with an additional $1,000 in damages if the violation was knowing, all within one year of the issue arising.

Business and Industry

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1092