Protection of employees; standards for heat illness prevention, report.

This legislation directs the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board to establish mandatory workplace safety standards to protect employees from heat-related illnesses. The new rules will require employers to provide critical resources for staff working in high-temperature environments, including access to shade, cool drinking water, and scheduled rest breaks. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Labor and Industry create a formal reporting system to track heat-related occupational injuries and illnesses. For Arlington’s local workforce—particularly those in construction, landscaping, and outdoor service industries—this measure aims to significantly reduce dangerous heat exhaustion incidents by enforcing clear, actionable safety protocols. These regulations will provide greater accountability for businesses and improve immediate physical outcomes for workers exposed to increasingly frequent and severe summer heat waves throughout the region.