Scott Leads Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

Press Release

Today, in a House Committee on Education and Labor markup, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) led Committee passage of legislation to protect indoor and outdoor workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat.

"Workers in this country still have no legal protection against one of the oldest, most serious, and most common workplace hazards: excessive heat. Heat illness affects workers in our nation's fields, warehouses, and factories, and climate change is making the problem more severe every year," said Education and Labor Committee Chairman Scott. "This legislation will require OSHA to issue a heat standard on a much faster track than the normal OSHA regulatory process. Workers deserve no less, particularly as heat-related illnesses and deaths rise."

Dangerous temperatures are a growing threat in Hampton Roads and globally. Without bold action on climate, parts of Hampton Roads could see more than two months' worth of days over 100 degrees each year by mid-century.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2022 would mitigate this harm by:

Requiring OSHA to establish an enforceable standard to protect workers in jobs at risk for hazardous heat stress with measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness.
Directing employers to provide training and hazard advisories to their employees about heat stress in the language their employees understand and in a format appropriate for their literacy and education levels.

Public health and environmental justice leaders in Virginia applauded the bill's capacity to mitigate harm as temperatures continue to rise.

"As clinicians caring for citizens in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are concerned and directly confronted by the significant health impacts of climate change on our patients, communities, and families" said Dr. Bob Kitchen, Vice-Chair of Advocacy, Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action. "Extreme heat associated with climate change is a danger to all, but foremost to workers, especially those outdoors. It is important to take these actions which will protect workers from this threat to their health."

"Hampton Roads is experiencing the hottest summer on record and people are suffering because of it" said Lynn Godfrey, Just Transition Program Manager, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. "Heat waves are not an inconvenience -- they are a serious problem that intensifies problems related to health and energy costs that are already disproportionately impacting communities like ours. Heat waves will only increase in intensity and frequency without serious, justice-driven climate action, and leaders must embrace solutions to mitigate harm."

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