Louise Esola: Virginia is the latest state to move toward formal workplace heat-illness prevention requirements, adding to a mosaic of state-level standards that employers must navigate amid the absence of a finalized federal rule. Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently signed legislation directing the state’s Safety and Health Codes Board to develop regulations that require employers to implement heat illness prevention protocols for indoor and outdoor workers, including access to water, rest breaks, training and emergency response procedures. The board has until May 1, 2028, to finalize the rules.

Research suggests such standards can reduce workplace injuries. A study by the Waltham, Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute found that California’s heat standard — the first in the nation, enacted in 2005 — led to measurable declines in injuries on hot days across several industries.
“We found that heat standards reduced injury frequency,” said Sebastian Negrusa, Washington-based vice president of research at WCRI. The study showed declines of 15% to 17% in construction, 24% to 27% in agriculture and 19% to 25% in transportation.

Read the full article in Business Insurance here.  The WCRI study that she cites is Impact of California’s Heat Standard on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes.  Visit its page on our website for more information, including on how to download a copy!