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MA S1355
Bill
AI Summary
- Establishes temperature stress thresholds at 80°F or above for heat and 60°F or below for cold, triggering mandatory employer protections for both indoor and outdoor workers
- Requires employers to provide minimum 1 quart of drinking water per hour, paid 10-minute cool-down or warm-up rest breaks, and access to shade or heated areas with at least 4 square feet per resting employee
- Mandates "high heat procedures" at 90°F (10-minute breaks every 2 hours) and 100°F (10-minute breaks every hour), with heat waves automatically triggering enhanced protocols
- Requires employers to develop written temperature mitigation programs, provide free worker training at hire and annually, supply personal protective equipment at no cost, and implement acclimatization periods for new workers (20% of normal work duration on day one, increasing gradually over two weeks)
- Prohibits retaliation against workers reporting temperature-related hazards or illness, requires recordkeeping of all temperature-related illnesses and fatalities, and mandates emergency response procedures including on-duty compensation for workers receiving first aid
Legislative Description
To establish extreme temperature worker protections
Last Action
Reporting date extended to Tuesday March 3, 2026
2/25/2026
Committee Referrals
Labor and Workforce Development2/27/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available