Arizona Is Finally Protecting Its Workers From The Heat

There's no state in the Union with a heat problem quite like Arizona. With heat related deaths in the hundreds every year, this has become one of the most hostile environments in the continental United States.

Workers bear the brunt of this burden, especially in blue-collar jobs that require extensive physical labor and hours outdoors. With no rules to protect them, summer work has essentially become a death sentence for many.

That's finally changing.

Pima Heat Ordinance

At the tail end of one of the hottest summers in Arizona history, Pima County has finally begun to put guidelines in place to protect their workers at risk of heat related illnesses. The idea began to take shape this May, and has finally reached the final stages.

While the basics were drafted early on, it was a letter from Attorney General Kris Mayes that solidified the program and proved to Pima leaders that this ordinance had legs.

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What Protections Were Put in Place?

This ordinance is a groundbreaking achievement for workers, ensuring that they will not be mistreated or put in harmful situations. The basics lie down a foundation that cold water must be available at all worksites, Air Conditioning should always be readily available, especially in vehicles, shade must be present, and workers must be allowed frequent "cool down" breaks.

On top of that, it also gives workers a reliable way to report their employers that refuse to follow these guidelines. This is a massive win for blue-collar workers in Pima County, and hopefully its success down south can bring change statewide.

[KOLD 13]

[Kris Mayes]