Tempe adopts new heat safety standards to protect outdoor workers

PHOENIX — The Tempe City Council has adopted new heat safety standards in order to better protect outdoor workers during the hotter months.

The new standards were put together by the Heat Safety for Tempe and Contract Workers Council Subcommittee — which consists of Councilmembers Randy Keating, Nikki Amberg and Berdetta Hodge — and modeled after Phoenix, Tucson and Pima County’s policies.

“This is about protecting the people who keep Tempe running — our public works teams, park crews and contract laborers,” Keating said in a press release Monday.

“Extreme heat is a reality in Tempe, and it’s our responsibility to make sure those working in it have the safeguards they need to stay safe.”

What are the new heat safety standards?

The new safety standards are required for city departments and contractors working for the city. They include:

• Written heat safety plans
• Access to water and shade within 0.25 miles of work zones
• Ten minute breaks every two hours when temperatures are above 100 degrees
• Annual heat safety training and emergency protocols
• Acclimatization measures for new employees
• Bilingual signage for protections and emergency steps
• Whistleblower protections.

The new standards, which were adopted at Thursday’s City Council meeting, will be implemented in two phases.

The requirements regarding water, breaks and access to shade will take effect 30 days after the adoption of the standards. All of the other requirements will take effect as of Sept. 1.

In addition to the new heat safety standards, the noise ordinance for summer construction was also updated to comply with a new Arizona state law that allows construction to begin earlier during the summer months.

Through Oct. 15, general construction is now allowed from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. However, concrete pouring is allowed to begin at 4 a.m.

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