Workplace Heat Protection Law Proposed by House Democrats

Employers nationwide would have to keep their workers from laboring in dangerously hot workplaces under a bill introduced July 10 by House Democrats.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), said the measure would, in part, replicate California’s strong measures requiring employers to have heat-stress prevention programs. While serving in the California Legislature in 2005, Chu introduced a bill leading to the state’s heat-protection measures for agriculture workers.

She recalled she became aware of heat-stress dangers to workers after hearing about a farmworker who died after being sent home with no medical care. “When that happened, enough was enough,” Chu ...