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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2782 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2172
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Aaron L. Saunders
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to prevent heat-related illness in public sector outdoor workers.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/16/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2782 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2172
By Representative Saunders of Belchertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2172)
of Aaron L. Saunders for legislation to prevent heat-related illness in public sector outdoor
workers. Labor and Workforce Development.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to prevent heat-related illness in public sector outdoor workers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 203 the following section:-
3 Section 204. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
5 “Heat– related illness”, means a serious medical condition resulting from the inability of
6the body to rid itself of excess heat, including heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat
7syncope and heat stroke.
8 “Heat stress”, means the net load to which a worker is exposed from the combined
9contributions of metabolic heat, environmental factors and clothing worn results in an increase in
10heat storage in the body, causing body temperature to rise and increasing the risk of heat-related
11illness. 2 of 3
12 (b) The department of labor standards shall promulgate regulations which include a
13standard establishing outdoor heat exposure levels for public employees which, if exceeded,
14trigger action to protect employees from heat-related illness, and shall monitor compliance with
15said regulations.
16 (c) Public employers shall develop, implement, and maintain a heat- related illness
17prevention plan for their employees. The plan shall be in writing in a language understood by a
18majority of employees, and shall be made available upon request by employees, employee
19representatives and representatives of the department of labor standards.
20 (1) Each plan shall include procedures and methods for the following:
21 (i) Initial and regular monitoring of employee worksite exposures that increase the risk
22of heat-related illness to determine whether an employee’s exposure is or will become excessive;
23 (ii) Providing potable water;
24 (iii) Providing paid rest breaks and access to shade, cool-down areas, or climate-
25controlled spaces as needed to prevent heat-related illness;
26 (iv) Providing an emergency response plan for any employee with signs or symptoms of
27heat exhaustion or heat stroke;
28 (v) Acclimatizing employees as needed to prevent heat-related illness;
29 (vi) Administrative controls to limit exposure to excessive heat when appropriate;
30 (vii) Annual training and education for employees at risk of heat-related illness;
31 (viii) Record-keeping and reporting procedures for heat-related illness; 3 of 3
32 (ix) Training and education to employees who are supervisors, including training and
33education regarding proper procedures a supervisor is required to follow with respect to:
34 (A) Monitoring conditions at the worksite that may increase the risk of heat-related
35illness, the prevention of employee exposure to heat stress;
36 (B) Implementing procedures to reduce the risk of heat-related illness;
37 (C) Proper procedures, including emergency response procedures, to follow when an
38employee exhibits signs or reports symptoms consistent with possible heat-related illness;
39 (d) Each public employer shall adopt a policy prohibiting discrimination or retaliation
40against an employee for reporting a heat-related illness concern or seeking assistance or
41intervention for heat-related health symptoms.
42 SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2027, the department of labor standards shall
43adopt and implement the requirements in Section 1 as the state standard for preventing heat
44illness in outdoor workers. Public employers shall have 6 months from the date the standard is
45adopted before compliance is enforced. The attorney general shall enforce the provisions of this
46section.