Arizona governor orders creation of Workplace Heat Safety Task Force

PHOENIX – The dangers of extreme Arizona heat are well documented. That’s why state leaders are launching a new initiative to protect workers who toil outdoors.

Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order Thursday directing the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) to create a Workplace Heat Safety Task Force.

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The group will consist of industry leaders, workers and occupational safety experts. It will be tasked with drafting and recommending workplace heat guidelines by the end of the year.

“Employers across the state want clear guidelines, and this will help establish that,” Hobbs said after signing the order during a ceremony at the site of a Phoenix Zoo construction project.

Hobbs said about one in five Arizonans work in a high-risk industry for heat. She stressed the importance of making sure they have access to water, shade and rest.

Aaron McDonald, apprenticeship coordinator for Ironworkers Local 75, knows firsthand how the Arizona heat can affect people working outdoors. He moved here from Wyoming in 2004 to help build the Arizona Cardinals stadium.

“I was in disbelief that people could work in these conditions,” McDonald recalled during the executive order signing ceremony.

Arizona heat guidance needed, ironworker says

He said that while his training allowed him to acclimate to the dangerous conditions, not everyone has access to the correct tools and guidance.

“I’ve seen kids fresh out of high school drop on a job site because they were not properly prepared to work in the heat. I also have friends who are still suffering from the effects of their heatstroke and can no longer work outside in the summer months,” McDonald said.

What else is state doing about heat safety?

The Workplace Heat Safety Task Force is the latest government effort to address the impact Arizona’s extreme heat.

In 2024, Arizona created its first heat preparedness plan. The plan introduced the country’s first statewide chief heat officer.

The state also launched a heat stress State Emphasis Program, started producing data on workplace heat hazards and authorized ADOSH to conduct 467 free consultations for employers.

There are signs that state and local heat safety efforts are making an impact.

Despite last year’s searing summer — with temperatures hitting at least 100 degrees in Phoenix for a record 113 straight days — the number of heat-related workers’ compensation claims dropped significantly, according to Hobbs’ office.

In addition, the number heat-related deaths in Maricopa County fell in 2024 for the first time in more than a decade.

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