A rising concern about workplace safety in high temperatures is prompting Arizona to consider new regulations. The state’s Industrial Commission is reviewing a set of proposals aimed at protecting workers from extreme heat, a move inspired by successful implementations in states like California and Nevada.
Governor Katie Hobbs initiated the formation of a task force last spring to address this pressing issue. Comprising 24 experts from various sectors, including roofing, construction, and firefighting, the group was tasked with developing comprehensive recommendations by the end of the year. These efforts have culminated in a proposal for a heat illness prevention strategy tailored to Arizona’s unique climate conditions.
The proposed guidelines are comprehensive. They call for employers to establish formal heat illness prevention plans, provide free access to drinking water, and ensure availability of shade. Additionally, the guidelines encourage regular rest breaks and require acclimatization and safety training for employees. Exemptions are suggested for jobs with brief heat exposure and emergency operations.
Governor Hobbs emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating, “These commonsense recommendations focusing on access to water, shade, and rest will keep countless Arizonans out of harm’s way.”
Despite these recommendations, some labor organizations express concerns about enforceability. Monica Sandschafer, Arizona State Director of Mi Familia en Acción, highlighted the need for a robust enforcement strategy. As Sandschafer shared with KJZZ’s The Show, “The recommendations or the guidelines for the employers are going [to the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health], but not a plan for implementation or enforcement. So what we want to see now is ADOSH couple those recommendations with a plan to actually hold folks to the standard. Otherwise, it’s just words on paper.”
The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) will first review the recommendations in a public meeting scheduled for February 4. Following this review, the Industrial Commission will determine the next steps, as explained by Dennis Kavanaugh, the Commission’s chairman. Kavanaugh noted that while they have the authority to make rules, “state rulemaking is an extensive, lengthy process.”
At the federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is contemplating a national standard for heat safety, though no timeline has been provided. Meanwhile, Arizona’s cities such as Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson, as well as Pima County, have enacted their own heat safety rules, though these apply only to specific worker groups.
Trina David, a veteran employee at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, voiced the desire for stronger protections, saying, “I would like to see real protections that companies will follow and accountability for companies that do not follow those protections.” Her experiences during Arizona’s sweltering summers underline the need for effective measures. “The heat is indescribable. It is more like a convection oven. Inside the bins it is even hotter, you’ll slip in your sweat. Your shoes melt every summer walking across the tarmac because it is so hot,” David explained.
