Bill > SB1204

This bill, known as the Workplace Heat Protection Standards Act, mandates that the Department of Labor and Industry, through its Secretary, develop and enforce regulations to protect employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses caused by heat stress, which is the body's inability to cope with heat. These regulations will require employers to implement comprehensive heat illness prevention plans, including monitoring heat index levels (a measure of heat perception considering humidity), providing access to water and cool-down areas, offering paid rest breaks, training employees and supervisors on heat hazards and symptoms, and establishing emergency response procedures. The bill defines key terms like "acclimatization" (the body's gradual adaptation to heat) and "high-heat condition" (when the heat index reaches 80º Fahrenheit or higher), and it applies to all employers except for emergency response providers and fire services during emergencies. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who report heat-related concerns or refuse to work under unsafe conditions, and employees can pursue legal action for such retaliation, potentially receiving reinstatement, triple lost wages, and other damages. The Department is granted authority to inspect workplaces, and penalties for non-compliance range from daily fines to significant penalties for willful or repeated violations, with criminal charges and fines for violations causing an employee's death. All collected fines and penalties will be deposited into a dedicated Heat Protection Enforcement Fund to support the Department's investigative and enforcement activities.

Labor and Employment

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb1204