25 LC 112 2925
House Resolution 209
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63
rd
, McClain of the 109
th
, Scott of the 76
th
, Jones of the
60
th
, and Glaize of the 67
th
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Georgia General Assembly to pass LC 46 0977, the Workplace Safety and Heat
1
Protection Act, to ensure critical protections for workers facing extreme heat conditions; and2
for other purposes.3
WHEREAS, extreme heat poses severe health risks to workers, including heat exhaustion,4
heat stroke, and other life-threatening heat-related illnesses, disproportionately affecting5
employees in high-exposure industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and6
warehousing; and7
WHEREAS, Georgia is experiencing increasingly extreme heat conditions, with an average8
of 20 more dangerously hot days per year compared to historical averages—a number9
projected to rise due to climate change, increasing the urgency for legislative action; and10
WHEREAS, studies show that workers in high-heat conditions are 50 percent more likely11
to suffer from workplace injuries, and heat-related deaths in the United States have increased12
by nearly 60 percent over the past two decades, underscoring the escalating dangers of13
unregulated heat exposure in the workplace; and14
H. R. 209
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WHEREAS, Georgia has over 425,000 workers employed in high-risk industries vulnerable
15
to extreme heat, many of whom are low-income and lack access to sufficient workplace16
protections, putting their livelihoods and well-being at risk; and17
WHEREAS, federal regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration18
(OSHA) do not currently provide sufficient mandates to address workplace heat exposure,19
leaving Georgia workers without adequate safeguards against extreme temperatures; and20
WHEREAS, failure to pass LC 46 0977 would expose thousands of Georgia workers to21
preventable heat-related illnesses and fatalities, leading to increased medical costs, lost22
wages, decreased productivity, and strain on emergency medical services, all of which23
negatively impact Georgia's economy and workforce; and24
WHEREAS, implementing a heat illness prevention program, as outlined in LC 46 0977,25
would provide necessary workplace protections, including access to water, shaded areas,26
mandatory rest breaks, risk assessments, employee training, and emergency response plans,27
ensuring the safety and well-being of Georgia's workforce.28
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that29
the members of this body urge the Georgia General Assembly to swiftly pass LC 46 0977,30
the Workplace Safety and Heat Protection Act, to protect Georgia's workers from the dangers31
of extreme heat exposure and to establish Georgia as a national leader in worker safety and32
well-being.33
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized34
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the35
Governor, the Commissioner of Labor, and all members of the Georgia General Assembly.36
H. R. 209
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