State Laws Archives - Safety+Health Magazine

Heat protections for workers: a regulatory update

Alan Ferguson — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:00:43 +0000

An overview of important developments at the federal and state level.

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NYC mayor signs Executive Order on protecting workers from heat

S+H Staff — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:49:20 +0000

New York — Development of heat illness prevention plans for New York City employees and contractors, as well as heat safety guidance intended for everyone who works in the city, are part of an Executive Order signed June 22 by Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D). The EO also directs the Department of Buildings to “review and […]

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Rhode Island lawmakers want to make assaulting rail transit workers a felony

S+H Staff — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:34:11 +0000

Providence, RI — Legislation recently introduced in Rhode Island would extend protection to rail transit workers who are assaulted on the job. Under current law, an “assault” is defined as “knowingly and willfully either striking or spraying with a noxious chemical, commonly used as a personal defense weapon, including Mace.” It covers a wide range […]

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North Carolina eliminates ‘death discount’

S+H Staff — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:53:34 +0000

Raleigh, NC — The North Carolina Department of Labor will no longer reduce employer penalties in cases involving worker deaths. Under a directive issued by Commissioner Luke Farley on April 29, “penalties assessed for violations that are a proximate cause of a fatality shall not be adjusted. All other violations found during the inspection may […]

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Nevada OSHA publishes guidance on heat rule

S+H Staff — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:12:53 +0000

Las Vegas — A new guidance document from Nevada OSHA features answers to a series of frequently asked questions on the agency’s standard on heat illness prevention. The standard, which went into effect April 29, requires employers with at least 10 employees to conduct a Job Hazard Analysis to identify conditions that could lead to […]

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Restroom access and paying for PPE: Colorado governor signs new law

S+H Staff — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:58:27 +0000

Denver — Colorado has enacted a law that prohibits employers in the state from deducting from workers’ wages the costs of certain personal protective equipment. S.B. 26-160, signed by Gov. Jared Polis (D) on June 3, contains a few exceptions. Among them: Nonspecialty safety-toe protective footwear, including steel-toe shoes and boots, or nonspecialty prescription safety […]

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Vermont finalizes landmark ban of paraquat

S+H Staff — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:18:16 +0000

Montpelier, VT — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) has signed legislation banning paraquat, a controversial herbicide that has been tied to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease among agricultural workers. Scott’s signature on H. 739 cements Vermont as the first state to do so. Effective Nov. 1, the new law prohibits the use or sale […]

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DOT: Medical marijuana ban still in place for safety-sensitive workers

S+H Staff — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:48:06 +0000

Washington — Truck drivers and other safety-sensitive transportation workers can’t legally use state-licensed medical marijuana despite federal action to ease restrictions under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the Department of Transportation recently clarified. In a notice issued May 15, DOT’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and agency general counsel state that […]

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NSC helping California employers prepare for opioid-reversal medication requirement

S+H Staff — Wed, 27 May 2026 18:35:10 +0000

Washington — New resources from the National Safety Council are intended to prepare California employers for a forthcoming requirement to include opioid-reversal medications in their workplace first aid kits. Under A.B. 1976, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Sept. 27, 2024, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is directed to draft, by […]

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Illinois lawmakers seek accommodations for workers experiencing menopause

S+H Staff — Tue, 26 May 2026 17:48:33 +0000

Springfield, IL — A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing awareness, education and care for workers experiencing menopause or perimenopause has advanced to the Illinois Senate. The Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act (H.B. 5284), introduced by Rep. Yolonda Morris (D-Chicago), advanced out of the House in April and is under consideration by the Senate Insurance […]

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