HB 1285 - Heat Illness Prevention

• Creates section 448.111 of Florida Statutes establishing heat illness prevention requirements for employers in agriculture, construction, and landscaping industries where employees regularly work outdoors for 15 minutes or more per hour.

• Requires employers to create an outdoor heat exposure safety program including training, provision of drinking water (minimum 1 quart per hour per employee), and access to shade when temperature reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Mandates high-heat procedures when outdoor temperature equals or exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit, including 10-minute recovery periods every 2 hours, continuous communication with employees, and daily preshift meetings.

• Requires annual training in multiple languages for all employees and supervisors covering heat illness recognition, environmental and personal risk factors, acclimatization, hydration importance, and emergency response procedures.

• Takes effect October 1, 2019; Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must adopt implementing rules.