Skip to content

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) sent a support letter to the Senate Labor Committee Leadership regarding the Heat Workforce Standards Act. Per their letter, “this legislation would shield businesses across the country from new regulatory burdens and compliance costs by preventing the finalization of the Biden Administration’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, or OSHA Heat Standard, and prevent a future administration from undertaking a similar rulemaking. 

The proposed OSHA Heat Standard is a one-sized-fits-all approach that would add onerous new mandates on businesses across the country without regard to regional climate differences or industry specific job functions. Specifically, the rule would require employers in general industry and construction, maritime, housing, and agricultural sectors to identify heat hazards, implement engineering and work practice heat control measures, implement a heat illness and emergency response plan, train personnel, retain extensive records, actively supervise employees, and add new paid break mandates.