UPDATE: The City of Tempe has passed an ordinance to protect outdoor workers.
"These updates require City departments and contractors working for the City to implement written heat safety plans and provide water, shade, rest breaks, and heat safety training for employees working outdoors," the city said.
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Original story:
Tempe heat ordinance: City considering protections for workers
The city of Tempe is proposing a heat safety ordinance to protect city employees and contracted outdoor workers.
Similar ordinances have recently passed in the city of Phoenix, Tucson, and Pima County.
If approved, the ordinance would require:
- Contractors and subcontractors under City contracts to implement written heat safety plans for outdoor employees.
- Access to water and shade within 0.25 miles of work areas.
- Regular rest breaks during extreme heat—10 minutes every two hours when a heat advisory is in effect.
- Annual training and emergency protocols for heat-related illness.
- Acclimatization and close monitoring protocols for new employees working in the heat.
- Signage—in both English and Spanish—outlining worker protections, first aid protocols and reporting mechanisms.
- Whistleblower protections
The public can weigh in at Thursday's Tempe City Council meeting at 6 p.m. A vote will take place on June 5.
