Florida Legislature Passes Bill to Preempt Local Heat Safety Measures for Outdoor Workers

The controversial bill, aimed at preventing cities and counties from enacting their own heat protection standards, has sparked outrage among worker advocates and safety organizations.

• The Florida legislature has passed a bill that prevents local governments from implementing heat safety standards for outdoor workers, affecting roughly 2 million individuals across the state.
• Critics label the bill 'cruel' and warn it will increase the risk of heat-related fatalities among the most vulnerable workers, especially as temperatures continue to rise.
• The bill nullifies existing local protections and prohibits new ones, leaving workers reliant on inadequate federal guidelines and facing increased health risks.
• Advocates for worker safety argue that the bill prioritizes industry interests over the well-being of outdoor workers, including those in agriculture and construction.
• Despite opposition, proponents of the bill argue it will eliminate a 'patchwork' of regulations, though critics see this as an excuse to avoid implementing necessary protections.

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