National COSH Urges Enforceable Heat Protections at Arizona Workplace Safety Hearing
National COSH joined Arizona workers and advocates at an ADOSH public hearing to call for a statewide, enforceable heat standard to protect workers from extreme heat exposure.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Feb 05, 2026
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) joined Arizona workers and community advocates at a public hearing held by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (ADOSH) Advisory Committee, urging the state to adopt an enforceable workplace heat standard.
Testimony at the hearing focused on the need for guaranteed access to water, shade, and rest for workers exposed to extreme heat. Participants argued that voluntary guidance and reliance on OSHA’s General Duty Clause have not adequately protected workers from heat-related illness and injury.
Arizona, which experiences some of the highest temperatures in the United States, currently lacks a statewide heat standard. There is also no federal occupational heat standard in place, a gap advocates say leaves workers vulnerable as temperatures continue to rise.
The hearing featured testimony from workers, labor advocates, and technical experts who shared personal experiences and data highlighting the risks associated with heat exposure. Tony Pineda, a Tucson-based roofer, described working in extreme temperatures without adequate breaks.
“We’re not asking for anything complicated,” Pineda said. “Water, rest, and shade are basic needs.”
The hearing comes as Arizona’s Workplace Heat Safety Task Force prepares to finalize recommendations to ADOSH. Coalition members said those recommendations should lead to formal rulemaking in 2026 to establish enforceable heat protection.
Advocates pointed to data from other states with heat standards, including California and Oregon, where heat-related workplace injuries and illnesses have declined following implementation and enforcement of heat rules. National studies have also linked high heat to tens of thousands of additional workplace injuries annually, with lower injury rates observed in states that have adopted heat standards.
National COSH representatives said Arizona’s actions could have broader implications as states consider how to protect workers from increasing heat exposure.
State officials did not announce a timeline for potential rulemaking following the hearing.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.