Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-2193
Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]
Introduced: 2021-03-26 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Department of Labor
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Health promotion and preventive care
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Lighting, heating, cooling
Water use and supply
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-26
text: 

Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate an occupational safety or health standard on prevention of exposure to excessive heat. 
Excessive heat
 includes outdoor or indoor exposure to heat at levels that exceed the capacities of the body to maintain normal body functions and may cause heat-related injury, illness, or fatality.
 
In addition, the bill establishes requirements concerning (1) training and education to prevent and respond to heat illness, and (2) whistle-blower protections.

action_date: 2022-11-07
text: 

Asunci&oacute;n Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2022

 
This bill directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to promulgate a standard that requires employers to implement certain measures for protecting workers from heat stress and related illnesses or injuries. 
Heat stress
 refers to the load of heat that a person experiences due to sources of heat or heat retention (including metabolic heat, environmental factors, and clothing or personal protective equipment) or the presence of heat in a work setting.
 
Further, if an employer cannot reduce exposure to heat stress below hazardous levels through engineering controls (e.g., heat shields and insulation) or personal protective equipment (e.g., heat reflective clothing), the employer must implement a program that mitigates such exposure through access to appropriate hydration and cool-down spaces, acclimatization policies, and periodic paid rest breaks.
 
Additionally, the bill establishes requirements concerning judicial review, implementation, enforcement, recordkeeping, and whistle-blower protections related to the standard.
 
The bill also requires the Department of Labor to include questions about heat-related illness and injury in the National Agricultural Workers Survey (an employment-based, random-sample survey of U.S. crop workers that collects demographic, employment, and health information).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-07
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.
action_date: 2022-11-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-547.
action_date: 2022-11-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-547.
action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 19.
action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-03-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2021-03-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-03-26
text: Introduced in House