A new bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is seeking to safeguard workers from heat-related injuries and illnesses.
Introduced on 28 August by Representatives Elizabeth Fiedler and Jim Haddock, House Bill 1580 would require the state’s Department of Labor and Industry to develop a formal heat regulation to protect employees working in high temperatures.
If passed, the legislation would bring Pennsylvania in line with a growing number of US states—such as California, Colorado, Maryland and Minnesota—that have already introduced rules to deal with rising workplace temperatures.
It comes amid increasing concern about the health risks posed by extreme heat, particularly for those working in outdoor or high-exertion environments.
The proposed law outlines a number of employer responsibilities. These include the creation of a heat illness prevention plan, mandatory paid rest breaks for workers, and provision of drinking water and access to shaded areas.
Employers would also be required to deliver training on the symptoms and types of heat-related conditions, the role of hydration and acclimatisation, and the correct response in emergency situations.
Under the bill, a “high-heat condition” would be defined as any time the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Certain professions—including emergency responders, fire services, and those involved in disaster-related emergency work—would be exempt from the legislation’s requirements.
Speaking about the bill, Representative Jim Haddock expressed frustration that such protections had not already been introduced. “It is unbelievable that today our workers do not have protections granted to them dealing with extreme heat stress while at work,” he said, adding that every worker should be able to return home safely without fearing heat-related injury or even death.
Haddock described the legislation as a landmark first step and voiced his commitment to pushing it through alongside Representative Fiedler. The bill’s introduction follows months of rising temperatures across the United States, with the summer of 2025 seeing record-breaking heatwaves in several regions.
A companion bill is also expected to be introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate in the near future, according to an official co-sponsorship memo released on the same day the House bill was filed.
The push for heat protection laws continues to gather momentum at both state and federal levels, as labour advocates, safety experts and climate scientists warn that workers will increasingly bear the brunt of rising temperatures.
Should H.B. 1580 become law, it would signal a significant step forward in Pennsylvania’s approach to occupational health and safety in a changing climate.
