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A newly introduced agricultural workforce bill in Congress could have implications that extend well beyond the farming industry, offering insight into the direction federal policymakers may take on workplace heat safety requirements across other labor-intensive sectors, including construction.

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, recently introduced the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (SAWA), a comprehensive proposal to modernize the federal H-2A agricultural guest worker program. While the legislation is primarily focused on addressing agricultural labor shortages, one provision has attracted attention from employers across multiple industries: the establishment of mandatory heat illness prevention plans.

Under the legislation, employers participating in the H-2A visa program would be required to develop and maintain a written heat illness prevention plan for their workers. The plan must include prevention measures that are at least as protective as applicable federal and state requirements and establish clear procedures for worker training, access to drinking water and shaded rest areas, scheduled breaks during periods of excessive heat, and emergency response protocols in the event of heat-related illness.

In addition, employers would be required to provide the heat illness prevention plan to employees before their first day of work. The plan must be available in English and, where a significant portion of the workforce is not proficient in English, translated into a language workers understand to ensure they can fully comprehend workplace safety procedures.

Although the legislation applies specifically to agricultural employers utilizing the H-2A visa program, construction industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the proposal. Construction workers, like agricultural laborers, perform physically demanding work outdoors and are among the occupations most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses during the summer months.

The bill also aligns with broader federal efforts to strengthen workplace protections against extreme heat. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been advancing a nationwide heat injury and illness prevention standard that would establish similar employer responsibilities across industries. As Congress and federal regulators continue to focus on worker safety in high-temperature environments, many of the concepts included in the agricultural legislation—written prevention plans, employee training, access to water and shade, rest breaks, and emergency response procedures—mirror the types of requirements that construction employers could ultimately face under future federal regulations.

For construction contractors and project owners, the legislation serves as another indication that proactive heat safety planning is becoming an increasingly important component of workforce management and regulatory compliance. Companies that already maintain comprehensive heat illness prevention programs may be better positioned should OSHA finalize a national heat standard or Congress pursue broader workplace safety legislation.

While the SAWA remains under congressional consideration, its workplace safety provisions offer an early glimpse into the evolving expectations surrounding employer responsibility for protecting workers from heat-related hazards—a trend that construction employers should continue to monitor closely.