As workers face effects of climate change, labor leaders and advocates convene to support first statewide heat protections introduced by Fiedler, Haddock
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus June 2, 2026 | 4:44 PM
HARRISBURG, June 2 – Today, lawmakers, labor leaders, environmental advocates and impacted workers gathered in the state Capitol to call on the legislature to pass Workplace Heat Protections (H.B. 1580).
Introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne, H.B. 1580 would require employers to implement heat illness prevention plans during extreme heat.
The plans would require paid rest breaks, water and access to shade; education on signs and symptoms of heat illness, such as heat stroke; and training on emergency response procedures.
"All workers share the desire to earn a good wage and support their families, whether they cook food in kitchens, build our commonwealth’s infrastructure on construction sites, or teach kids in classrooms. But Pennsylvania’s lack of heat protections is threatening that goal and endangering workers,” said Fiedler. “This bill provides basic safety measures for all Pennsylvania workers, regardless of sector or workplace, so they can return home safely to their loved ones at the end of each day.”
“Currently workers in Pennsylvania have no workplace heat protections on the federal level or on the state level. Unbelievably, in Pa. we have laws on the books to protect our dogs and cats during extreme heat, but not humans. It is time to pass laws for our Pennsylvania workers, to protect them just like we do our furry friends,” said Haddock.
Sens. Tim Kearney, D-Delaware, and Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The bill has bipartisan support in that chamber.
“I’m proud to have introduced Senate Bill 1204 with Senator Nick Pisciottano, working alongside Representative Fiedler and Representative Haddock to advance practical protections for workers. We’re talking about straightforward, commonsense measures: access to ventilation, scheduled water or shade breaks, and other safeguards that prevent heat-related illness, reduce workers’ compensation claims, help employers avoid unnecessary costs, and ultimately save lives,” said Kearney.
House Bill 1580 is backed by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including unions, environmental advocates, physicians and farmers, who tout the bill’s benefits to workers across sectors.
"No job is worth a life,” said Mike Ford, PA Building and Construction Trades Council secretary-treasurer. “House Bill 1580 is a balanced, practical piece of legislation that addresses a clear and present danger to the working class of this state. It reflects the values of dignity, safety and respect that we strive to uphold in the labor movement."
“It is a fundamental right of employees everywhere to work in a safe environment. As temperatures are rising across the globe, hardworking Pennsylvanians are no exception to the increased risk of heat-related illness. With no set standards put forth legislatively at the federal level, Pennsylvania must step up to protect its workforce,” said Angela Ferritto, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president.
“Heat illness leads to missed workdays, emergency room visits, lost productivity and preventable tragedies that ripple through families and workplaces alike,” said Don Teets, rapid response coordinator for District 10, United Steelworkers. “If we value workers, then we must protect their lives, their health and their dignity on the job.”
Fiedler said that without legal protections or adequate training on the signs and symptoms of heat illness, workers face pressure to continue working through dangerous and even fatal conditions.
Additionally, workers without collective bargaining agreements may face increased risk of retaliation for seeking care or rest during high temperatures, she noted. The legislation guarantees workers protection from retaliation or discrimination based on complaints, pursuit of care for heat-related symptoms, or refusal to work in extreme heat.
Angelica, a Philadelphia resident and a member of El Comité de Trabajadorxs de Restaurante (the Restaurant Workers’ Committee), spoke about her experience working in extreme heat.
“I used to work at a fast-food restaurant where working conditions were unpleasant. In the summer, the days were extremely hot and humid. I was sweating and sweating and felt exhausted—it was unbearable. No matter how much water I drank, it didn’t help; the heat was suffocating,” said Angelica, who spoke in Spanish with a translator. “This bill will impose fines and protect those who complain, which will be the only way to bring better working conditions in our restaurants. Heat shouldn’t cost a life!”
"The standards in House Bill 1580 represent an important step toward the heat protections Pennsylvania workers need. A uniform, enforceable state standard creates an equal playing field for all farms and a safer, more humane workplace for farm employees,” said Noah Erwin, associate director for policy at Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.
The bill is designed to prepare Pennsylvania’s workforce for the intensifying effects of climate change. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and experts predict more extreme heat records over the next five years. On average, heat kills more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined.
“With extreme weather becoming more and more frequent, it’s essential that we protect the health of our workers who are on the front lines. We’re calling on the legislature to swiftly advance this bill to ensure that we put the safety of workers in critical industries, from construction to manufacturing, ahead of corporate profits,” said Katie Blume, policy and legislative director of Conversation Voters of PA.
"As every season gets warmer and heat waves get longer and more intense, workers in Pennsylvania need heat protections. It is intolerable to allow workers to die or get sick from preventable heat-related causes when plenty of commonsense protections exist," said Juanita Constible, senior advocate for environmental health at Natural Resources Defense Council. "Pennsylvania’s legislators must heed the call for heat justice by moving without delay to pass this bill and protect the workers that keep the Commonwealth running."
"Injury, illness, and death from heat stress are completely preventable," said Lisa Wood, northeast regional field manager, BlueGreen Alliance. "And the tools for prevention are pretty simple: education, time to rest and cool down, and access to cool water. Every worker in Pennsylvania deserves to have these safeguards, and this bill is designed to make that happen."
Preceding the press conference, the House Labor & Industry Committee held a hearing to consider the bill. Testifiers included Ford; Nicole Fuller, executive director of PhilaPOSH; Angela Ferritto; and Juanita Constible.
House Bill 1580 is included in the PA House Blue-Green Caucus legislative package. The Blue-Green Caucus, chaired by Fiedler, includes 54 members who share a stated mission of advancing legislation uniting labor and environmental interests.
Supportive organizations include the PA Building & Construction Trades Council, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers, UFCW Local 1776, Conservation Voters of PA, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, BlueGreen Alliance, PennFuture, National Employment Law Center, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Union of Concerned Scientists.
The bill now awaits a vote in the House Labor & Industry Committee.