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HD 2782

An Act to prevent heat-related illness in public sector outdoor workers

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Aaron Saunders

Massachusetts bill requiring public outdoor workers receive heat illness prevention measures including hydration, rest breaks, and shade access during high-temperature conditions.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 2782

Legislative bill overview

HD 2782 establishes mandatory heat illness prevention standards for public sector outdoor workers in Massachusetts, likely requiring employers to implement protocols such as hydration access, rest breaks, shade availability, and worker training during high-temperature conditions. The bill aims to protect government employees working outdoors from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and related occupational illnesses.

Why is this important

Heat-related illness is a significant occupational hazard for outdoor workers, particularly as summer temperatures rise and climate change intensifies heat events. Public sector outdoor workers—including highway maintenance crews, parks employees, and utility workers—currently lack comprehensive state-level heat protection standards, leaving them vulnerable to serious health consequences and lost productivity.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and compliance burden: Public agencies may argue that mandated heat protections increase operational costs and require infrastructure investments (cooling stations, additional staffing for breaks) that strain already-tight municipal budgets
  • Scope and enforceability: Questions about whether standards apply uniformly across all public sectors (state vs. municipal vs. county) and how violations are monitored and penalized
  • Definition of trigger conditions: Disagreement over what temperature thresholds trigger mandatory protections and whether humidity and heat index should be factored differently than actual air temperature

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

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