The proposed bill establishes an Occupational Heat Stress Standard and an Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program within the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). It mandates the commissioner to create a heat stress standard by June 1, 2024, requiring employers to implement a heat-related illness prevention plan that includes monitoring employee exposure to heat, providing potable water, ensuring access to shade and rest breaks, and training employees on the risks of heat-related illnesses. The bill also outlines requirements for record-keeping, employee training, and emergency response procedures related to heat exposure, while prohibiting retaliation against employees who report heat-related concerns.

Additionally, the bill grants the commissioner authority to investigate compliance, issue penalties for violations, and enforce stop-work orders against non-compliant employers. Employers must develop and maintain a heat-related illness prevention plan with employee participation, tailored to specific workplace hazards, and available in English and the primary language of the majority of employees. The bill specifies actions during excessive heat, such as postponing non-urgent tasks and increasing rest allowances, and imposes civil penalties of $5,000 per day for violations of stop-work orders. It also establishes a six-year statute of limitations for claims and mandates annual reviews of prevention plans, with provisions taking effect immediately and specific rules to be issued by June 1, 2024.