Richmond, VA — Virginia is set to become one of the next states with a regulation on heat illness prevention.
On April 13, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed companion bills H.B. 1092 and S.B. 288 (they have identical text). The new law directs the commonwealth’s Safety and Health Codes Board to develop a heat regulation no later than May 1, 2028.
That regulation, covering indoor and outdoor workers, will require employers to provide rest periods and access to drinking water and shade (or climate-controlled environments). The forthcoming rule will also have provisions on acclimatization, training on heat illness prevention, emergency response, and “heat and high-heat procedures when the temperature equals or exceeds heat thresholds set by the board.”
The law calls for exemptions for:
- Emergency medical services
- Emergency law enforcement
- Firefighting services
- Rescue and evacuation
- Emergency highway construction and maintenance
- Emergency restoration of “essential utilities,” such as electricity or telecommunications
- Heat exposures lasting no longer than 15 minutes
Seven states have some form of workplace heat regulation: California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Colorado covers only agricultural workers, while Minnesota covers indoor workers.
