Provide input on a proposed Heat Safety Ordinance

Tempe City Council’s Heat Safety for Tempe & Contract Workers Subcommittee is moving forward with proposed amendments to the Tempe City Code relating to heat relief. The proposed Heat Safety Ordinance would provide a heat protection policy for Tempe and contract workers.

Who the ordinance would apply to: 

• City of Tempe employees who work outdoors 
• Contractors, subcontractors, and their outdoor employees working on City-funded projects 
• (Note: This ordinance does not apply to all private employers in Tempe.) 

What’s in the proposed ordinance? 

• Requires contractors and subcontractors under City contracts to implement written heat safety plans for outdoor employees 
• Access to water and shade within 0.25 miles of work areas 
• Regular rest breaks during extreme heat—10 minutes every 2 hours when a heat advisory is in effect 
• Required annual training and emergency protocols for heat-related illness 
• Acclimatization and close monitoring protocols for new employees working in the heat 
• Signage—in both English and Spanish—outlining worker protections, first aid protocols, and reporting mechanisms 
• Whistleblower protections 

Read the draft ordinance and provide your feedback by answering the questions below. More info. at tempe.gov/CouncilCommittees