Current Events > Florida bans mandatory water breaks for workers in hot weather

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Florida Senate passes bill blocking local rules protecting workers from heat

Floridas Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would ban cities and counties from adopting requirements for mandatory water breaks and other workplace protections against extreme heat.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 28-11, along party lines, to pass Senate Bill 1492, which would prohibit local governments from determining workplace heat standards that go beyond those required by federal law. In effect, the bill would strip cities and counties of the ability to require water breaks for workers and time to rest in the shade throughout the day.

The state legislation comes after the planet notched its hottest year in recorded history in 2023. Nearly the entire southern part of the U.S. last summer suffered weeks on end of oppressive humidity and triple-digit temperatures in a series of long-lasting heat waves that climate scientists said were intensified by global warming.

Supporters of Senate Bill 1492 said the measure will help establish uniform regulations, rather than having rules applied inconsistently across the state.

But labor organizations have said workplace heat standards are necessary to keep people safe, particularly for individuals who work in construction, agriculture and other industries that require them to be outside.

Similar legislation was passed last year in Texas, as part of a state law that limited local governments from, among other things, establishing ordinances for mandatory water breaks and time in the shade for outdoor workers.

Heat causes more deaths in the U.S. each year than any other weather event, according to the National Weather Service, and outdoor workers are among those most vulnerable to heat-related illness and death when temperatures spike.

In addition to water and shade breaks, the local heat protections banned under Senate Bill 1492 would include heat-exposure training programs, protections for employees who report issues related to excessive heat exposure and record-keeping requirements related to heat exposure.

Under the state legislation, businesses would follow general rules set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. While the agency recognizes extreme heat as a workplace hazard, OSHA has not yet issued specific federal rules to protect workers from dangerously high temperatures.

The bill awaits final approval in the House before heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis. If signed into law, it would take effect July 1

While the agency recognizes extreme heat as a workplace hazard, OSHA has not yet issued specific federal rules to protect workers from dangerously high temperatures.

which would prohibit local governments from determining workplace heat standards that go beyond those required by federal law.

https://www.wrshlaw.com/blog/construction-accident/texas-ending-its-worksite-water-break-rules-was-a-bad-idea/

Federal regulations require employers to provide access to drinkable water, but there are no specific OSHA guidelines on how often employees must be provided with water breaks.

OSHA doesnt have a minimum water break rule, and federal regulations are vague, only stating that employers must allow workers reasonable opportunities to drink water during their shifts.

HMMMMMMMM....

This means anyone not in a union is fucked

Every one of these senators who signed this bill should be fired into the sun.

Every one of these senators who signed this bill should be fired into the sun.

this is isn't even good business.

These laws make absolutely no sense.

You want a hydrated workforce. They do better work.

So, when someone dies from this, can republican politicians be held accountable for murder? Because theres no way anyone with a functioning brain would pass this without knowing its going to cause great harm or death to someone

So, when someone dies from this, can republican politicians be held accountable for murder? Because theres no way anyone with a functioning brain would pass this without knowing its going to cause great harm or death to someone

So, when someone dies from this, can republican politicians be held accountable for murder?

So, when someone dies from this, can republican politicians be held accountable for murder? Because theres no way anyone with a functioning brain would pass this without knowing its going to cause great harm or death to someone

also, when will Republican voters be held accountable for damage and death?

Really dont get how idiots get in charge of stuff, it is just nepotism? I mean any good businessman should know a fed, hydrated, happy worker, works far far harder than a starving, dehyrdated, suffering worker. Also a well paid worker, will put that money back into the economy, which means more money all around.

this is isn't even good business.

These laws make absolutely no sense.

You want a hydrated workforce. They do better work.

How is DeSantis still employed?

>Hire undocumented workers to do undervalued labor
>Workers get less protections which means more labor
>Worker gets injured to suffers heat stroke, easy to replace and don't have to worry about healthcare because they're undocumented

It's all according to plan.

How is DeSantis still employed?

Literally why though

>Hire undocumented workers to do undervalued labor
>Workers get less protections which means more labor
>Worker gets injured to suffers heat stroke, easy to replace and don't have to worry about healthcare because they're undocumented

It's all according to plan.

Literally why though

this is isn't even good business.

These laws make absolutely no sense.

You want a hydrated workforce. They do better work.

Why not just enlist people on death row and work them to death?

Isn't their economy already tanking from banning undocumented immigrants from working?

how do you even ban someone from providing breaks?? I can understand requiring them to provide breaks, but I don't understand the reverse

and I don't mean this in the sense of "how can they do something that's such a bad idea", I mean actually how does it work? can't the company just provide a break for any other random reason?