Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act to implement federal enforceable workplace heat stress protections at indoor and outdoor settings. The bill comes as SWACCA continues to engage on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rule on heat injury and illness on which we submitted comments with the Construction Employers of America back in January.
Sen. Padilla’s legislation would require that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establish an enforceable federal standard to protect workers in high-heat environments through measures including paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness. The bill also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.
A one-pager on the bill is available here, a section-by-section of the bill is available here, and the full bill text of the bill is available here.