Florida lawmakers seek to protect workers from high heat

Tallahassee, FL — Legislation recently introduced in Florida would require employers to take measures – including providing water breaks and shaded rest areas – to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat.

H.B. 35 and S.B. 510 would apply to employers whose employees regularly perform work outdoors for more than 15 minutes per hour. Those employers also would have to:

• Implement a heat exposure safety plan.
• Provide training to supervisors and workers about heat-related illnesses.
• Take preventive and first aid measures, including providing cold drinking water.

When the heat index reaches 90° F or higher, employers would have to implement high-heat safety procedures, which include two-way communication methods and a 10-minute recovery period every two hours.

“There are industries that aren’t providing appropriate cover from the sun and aren’t providing accessible water,” Rep. Michael Gottlieb (D-Broward County), sponsor of the House bill, told Central Florida Public Media. “We just came off of the hottest summer that we’ve had in a long time. And yet, these entities are lobbying against it – they don’t want it. They see it as stopping production.

“I don’t see why we have to wait for another tragedy for people to wake up and say, ‘OK, we really should be doing this.’ We need, as a government entity, to take action to protect the citizens. Plain and simple.”

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law legislation that prohibits local municipalities and counties from requiring protective measures against the heat.