For years, Clean Water Action has been working in Maryland to support the safety of farm workers working in high-heat conditions – particularly pesticide applicators who require safety gear to reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals. As climate change continues to bring more extreme weather, working for climate resiliency means that protecting workers from heat-related risks is more important than ever. This summer, the Maryland Department of Labor published draft heat standard regulations, and we advocated for strong worker protections and improvements on the draft. Now, as of September 30, these regulations have been finalized and adopted: a major victory for worker safety, particularly for those in high-heat industries like solid waste management, agriculture, and food production. This progress underscores Maryland’s commitment to protecting its workforce from the dangerous effects of heat stress and rising summer temperatures.
What’s in the New Heat Standard
Maryland's new heat standard lays out specific protections for workers exposed to high temperatures. These include provisions requiring employers to provide access to shade, water, and rest breaks for workers during periods of extreme heat. Additionally, the standard mandates worker training on heat-related illness prevention and requires employers to develop heat illness prevention plans. (Read the standard for yourself here.) Maryland is now one of only six states in the U.S. to implement such a standard, putting the state at the forefront of worker safety.
Why This Matters for Maryland's Workers
Heat-related illnesses are a growing concern, especially as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heat waves. Workers in agriculture, food production, solid waste management, and other outdoor industries are among the most vulnerable to heat stress, which can lead to serious health issues such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death.
Heat stroke can often mimic other health conditions such as dehydration, migraine headaches, and nausea. This means it is crucial for workers and employers to receive proper training to recognize the early signs of heat-related illness and ensure fast medical intervention before the situation becomes life-threatening.
For the thousands of Maryland workers, this heat standard is a lifeline. It not only acknowledges the health risks of high temperatures but also mandates protections to ensure that workers are not forced to choose between earning a paycheck and safeguarding their health from extreme heat.
Read more:
- Maryland becomes the first East Coast state to adopt worker heat protections (WYPR)
- Workplace heat-illness standards finalized as deadly 'heat season’ comes to an end (Maryland Matters)
- Maryland issues workplace heat standards in wake of Baltimore sanitation worker’s death (Baltimore Brew)
Paving the Way for the Nation
Maryland’s leadership in passing a heat standard places it among a select group of states that have taken action to protect workers from heat stress. As one of only six states with such regulations, Maryland is setting a critical example that other states can follow. At Clean Water Action, we hope that this bold step will inspire more states to adopt comprehensive heat stress standards to protect their workers in the face of rising temperatures.
Looking Ahead: The Need for Improvement
While we celebrate the passage of this important standard, there is more work to be done. One of the key improvements we are advocating for is the adoption of the wetbulb globe temperature (WBGT) as a more accurate measure of heat stress exposure. (Read our comments on the proposed draft with the Maryland Food and Farm Worker Coalition below.) Currently, the standard relies on the heat index, which measures air temperature and humidity; however, it does not account for factors like sunlight, wind speed, or radiant heat. The WBGT is a more comprehensive tool that provides a fuller picture of the true heat burden workers face.
Clean Water Action is committed to continuing our advocacy to ensure that Maryland's heat stress standard evolves to meet the needs of its workers. The adoption of the WBGT would be a significant step forward in making sure that workers are fully protected from the dangerous effects of extreme heat.
In the meantime, we celebrate this landmark victory for worker safety and look forward to Maryland paving the way for even stronger protections in the future.
