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Bill

H 348

An act relating to protecting workers from extreme temperatures in the workplace

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Conor Casey and 1 co-sponsor

H 348 would require employers to protect workers from extreme heat and cold with standards, controls, training, medical access, and enforcement to prevent temperature-related injur

Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing
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Bill Summary · H 348

Bill Overview

  • Bill: H 348
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Jurisdiction: Vermont
  • Title: An act relating to protecting workers from extreme temperatures in the workplace
  • Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing (2025-02-25)
  • Sponsors: Co-sponsors Conor Casey and Kate Logan

Purpose and Intent

H 348 seeks to safeguard workers from extreme heat and cold in work environments. The act aims to establish legal standards, protections, and procedures to prevent heat- and cold-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among employees in Vermont workplaces.

Key Provisions and Changes

Note: The following highlights are based on the bill’s title and typical structure of temperature-protection legislation. If you need exact text, please refer to the bill’s language when released.

  • Exposure Standards: Establish regulatory limits or guidelines for permissible workplace temperatures, including actions when ambient conditions exceed safe thresholds.
  • Employer Duties: Require employers to implement preventative measures such as:
    • Access to cooling/commercial-grade ventilation or climate-controlled spaces
    • Provision of adequate hydration and rest breaks
    • Engineering controls (e.g., shade, insulation, ventilation)
    • Administrative controls (e.g., scheduling adjustments, rotation to limit exposure)
  • Heat- and Cold-Related Protections: Specific protections targeting heat stress (e.g., heat illness prevention plans) and cold stress (e.g., recognition of hypothermia and frostbite risks, appropriate PPE).
  • Acclimatization and Training: Provisions for acclimatization periods for workers exposed to extreme temperatures and mandatory training for both employees and supervisors on recognizing symptoms and responding to incidents.
  • Medical Access and Reporting: Requirements for prompt medical evaluation for suspected temperature-related illness and clear reporting mechanisms for incidents or near-misses to relevant authorities.
  • Recordkeeping and Compliance: Obligations for employers to maintain records of temperature conditions, incidents, and corrective actions; potential inspections or enforcement mechanisms.
  • Enforcement and Penalties: Consequences for noncompliance, which may include fines, citations, or other penalties, as well as possible timelines for bringing operations into compliance.
  • Worker Protections: Protections against retaliation for workers who report temperature-related hazards or refuse unsafe work due to extreme conditions.
  • Effective Dates and Phase-In: Timelines for when standards take effect, including any phased implementation or transition periods for employers.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Employers: Businesses and organizations with workplaces where employees are exposed to extreme temperatures would need to assess risk, implement controls, and maintain records.
  • Workers: Employees in industries with outdoor work or poorly climate-controlled indoor work (e.g., construction, agriculture, manufacturing, warehousing, hospitality) would gain explicit protections and remedies.
  • Enforcement Agencies: State labor or occupational safety agencies would administer standards, conduct inspections, and enforce compliance.
  • Small vs. Large Employers: The bill may include phased requirements or scaled obligations, potentially affecting small businesses with limited resources differently from larger employers.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction/Referral: The bill was introduced and referred to the Committee on General and Housing on February 25, 2025.
  • Committee Process: It will be considered by the General and Housing Committee, which may hold hearings, solicit stakeholder input, and amend the measure.
  • Potential Next Steps: If advanced, the bill would progress to subsequent readings, potential amendments, and floor votes, followed by reconciliation with any companion measures and gubernatorial approval or veto considerations.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Workplace Safety Outcomes: Clearer standards for preventing heat and cold illness could reduce health risks and associated costs from temperature-related injuries.
  • Operational Adjustments: Employers may need to invest in cooling/heating controls, PPE, training, and monitoring systems.
  • Economic Implications: Compliance costs for businesses; potential savings from reduced illness and absenteeism.
  • Public Health and Equity: Protections may disproportionately benefit outdoor and low-wage workers who face greater exposure to extreme temperatures.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact bill text once released to provide precise provisions, thresholds, penalties, and timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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