We will soon introduce legislation to address the growing safety risk of extreme heat for workers throughout Pennsylvania.

Summers are getting hotter, and Pennsylvania’s workers are confronting longer, more intense heat waves, rising humidity, and nights that no longer bring relief.  These conditions significantly increase the risk of heat-related illness and injury, especially for those working outdoors or in environments without adequate air conditioning. If not treated properly, excessive heat can cause a range of health issues, from heat cramps to heat stroke, and heat-related illnesses can even be fatal. Excessive heat can impair brain function and slow reaction times, leading to more workplace incidents such as falls, or vehicle and machinery accidents that may not be reported as heat related.

Simple steps—like shaded breaks, gradual acclimatization, and access to cool water—can greatly reduce heat risks. When widely adopted, these practices protect outdoor workers from heat-related illness and injury. Unfortunately, federal efforts to establish standards to protect workers from heat hazards have stalled. As such, Pennsylvania must act to adopt state-level protections.

This legislation will provide guidelines for heat injury and illness prevention plans that employers and workers will follow to mitigate the risk of extreme heat. Plans will provide for drinking water, break areas, and other as-needed measures when temperatures hit the 80s, and more active monitoring and regular breaks for extended work past 90+ degrees.  

Let’s not leave hard-working Pennsylvanians high and dry. Please join us in this effort to keep all workplaces safe and productive.