Overview

• 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.