By Julie Lopez, Articling Student at CELA
As the climate crisis evolves, extreme heat and extreme heat events are becoming more severe and more frequent. Workers across industries in Ontario are increasingly exposed to conditions that threaten their health and lives. To prevent adverse impacts on their health or even death, workers need urgent protection from extreme heat in the workplace.
CELA is encouraged by private members’ bill 36, Heat Stress Act, 2025, An Act to protect workers from heat stress, that was re-introduced and ordered for a second reading on May 29, 2025.
If passed, the Bill would set the framework for the protection of these workers throughout every workplace in Ontario. The Bill amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act to add a new part which would require the Minister of Health to develop and implement a Worker Heat Protection Standard and sets out requirements for that standard. The Bill also imposes certain obligations on all employers to protect their workers from heat stress.
Bill 36 proposes obligations for employers to protect workers
Notably, the requirements of the Worker Heat Protection Standard would include
- Requirements to eliminate hazardous levels of heat stress through engineering controls, such as isolating or shielding employees from sources of heat, exhaust ventilation, insulation of hot surfaces or climate-control technologies, as well as technology based standards that encourage the development of such control.
- Requirements to limit exposure to hazardous levels of heat stress by using the hierarchy of controls, which may include the adjustment of work procedures, work schedules or other work practices.
- Requirements to provide, at the employer’s expense, breaks and personal protective equipment such as water-cooled garments, air-cooled garments, heat-reflective clothing and cooling vests.
- Requirements for every employer to develop and implement, in consultation with and considering any recommendation of any health and safety representative or committee, a Heat Stress and Protection Policy and Program and to review the policy and program as often as necessary and no less than once every 12 months.
- Requirements for every employer to conduct a heat stress assessment as often as necessary and no less often than the prescribed frequency, if any, to determine if a worker is or may be exposed to thermal conditions likely to cause heat stress.
- Requirements for every employer to provide the health and safety representative or committee with the results of every heat stress assessment.
- Requirements for every employer to provide workers with access to cool drinking water or an adequate alternative hydrating fluid close to every work area.
Bill 36, Heat Stress Act, 2025 seeks to protect workers across Ontario. CELA urges all parties to support the bill and take urgent action to protect Ontarians from the impacts of extreme heat in the workplace.
Source
Bill 36, An Act to protect workers from heat stress, 1st Sess, 44th Leg, Ontario, 2025 (first reading 29 May 2025).
Blog: Ontario’s Heat Stress Act, 2025 Aims to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat
By Julie Lopez, Articling Student at CELA
As the climate crisis evolves, extreme heat and extreme heat events are becoming more severe and more frequent. Workers across industries in Ontario are increasingly exposed to conditions that threaten their health and lives. To prevent adverse impacts on their health or even death, workers need urgent protection from extreme heat in the workplace.
CELA is encouraged by private members’ bill 36, Heat Stress Act, 2025, An Act to protect workers from heat stress, that was re-introduced and ordered for a second reading on May 29, 2025.
If passed, the Bill would set the framework for the protection of these workers throughout every workplace in Ontario. The Bill amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act to add a new part which would require the Minister of Health to develop and implement a Worker Heat Protection Standard and sets out requirements for that standard. The Bill also imposes certain obligations on all employers to protect their workers from heat stress.
Bill 36 proposes obligations for employers to protect workers
Notably, the requirements of the Worker Heat Protection Standard would include
Bill 36, Heat Stress Act, 2025 seeks to protect workers across Ontario. CELA urges all parties to support the bill and take urgent action to protect Ontarians from the impacts of extreme heat in the workplace.
Source
Bill 36, An Act to protect workers from heat stress, 1st Sess, 44th Leg, Ontario, 2025 (first reading 29 May 2025).
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