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Bill

A 3521

Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alixon Collazos-Gill and 13 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill establishes mandatory heat stress standards requiring employers to implement illness prevention programs protecting workers during high-temperature conditions.

Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · A 3521

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 3521 establishes mandatory occupational heat stress standards for New Jersey workplaces and creates a new "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill requires employers to implement heat illness prevention measures, establish monitoring protocols, and provide worker protections during high-temperature conditions.

Why is this important

Heat-related illness and death among workers is a documented occupational health hazard, particularly affecting outdoor workers, construction crews, and those in high-temperature environments. As climate change increases extreme heat events, establishing regulatory standards provides workers with enforceable protections and gives employers clear compliance requirements rather than voluntary guidelines.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance costs: Employers may face significant expenses implementing monitoring systems, providing cooling facilities, and adjusting work schedules, potentially impacting small businesses disproportionately
  • Work schedule flexibility: Mandatory rest periods or temperature thresholds could limit employer scheduling flexibility and potentially affect productivity in time-sensitive industries
  • Regulatory scope: Disagreement over which industries, temperature thresholds, and worker categories should be covered—indoor vs. outdoor work, seasonal vs. year-round standards

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

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