Heat Stress Act, 2025
Sponsored by Tabuns, Peter, Pasma, Chandra, Vaugeois, Lise, West, Jamie · First Reading Ordered for Second Reading
- Adds a new Part IV.1 to the Occupational Health and Safety Act to address heat stress at work
- Requires the Minister to create a Worker Heat Protection Standard within 12 months of the section coming into force
- Standard must include engineering controls, work schedule adjustments, breaks and employer-paid protective equipment
- Employers must create a Heat Stress and Protection Policy, do heat stress assessments, and review annually
- Workers must have access to cool drinking water near work areas and get heat stress training
- Employees must be paid their regular wage for rest breaks, medical removal and training time under the standard
- Minister must report yearly to the Legislature on heat-related illness, deaths and enforcement for five years