Sponsors (2)
The bill delivers enforceable, targeted protections for farm and outdoor workers against wildfire smoke and extreme heat—improving worker safety and prompting broader climate/health responses—but imposes compliance costs, potential earnings impacts for piece-rate workers, and transitional burdens on small employers.
Farmworkers and other outdoor workers will receive enforceable protections—employers must provide N95/N100 (or NIOSH-certified) respirators, access to water and cooling, and regular rest breaks—reducing exposures to wildfire smoke and heat-related illness.
Employers must provide training and materials in languages workers understand, improving safe equipment use and early recognition of heat-illness symptoms for immigrant and limited-English workers.
The Secretary is required to begin a formal rulemaking within 90 days and initial protections will be enforceable as OSHA standards, accelerating implementation and giving workers quicker, legally enforceable protections.
Small farms and other employers will incur new operating costs to purchase respirators, cooling equipment, and otherwise implement the required protections.
Mandatory rest breaks and other protective measures could reduce paid productivity or earnings for piece-rate and low-wage workers.
Employers will face increased enforcement risk and potential OSHA penalties while they adapt to the new requirements, creating compliance pressure particularly during the transition.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires DOL/OSHA to issue an initial enforceable standard within 90 days protecting farmworkers from wildfire smoke and extreme heat, mandating respirators, water/shade, rest breaks, training, and outreach.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress July 31, 2025
Requires the Department of Labor/OSHA to treat an immediate initial workplace standard protecting agricultural workers from wildfire smoke and excessive heat as an enforceable OSHA standard until a formal rule is completed, and to begin formal rulemaking within 90 days. The required protections include NIOSH-certified respirators (e.g., N95/N100), mandatory respirator use at extremely dangerous levels, water and cooling facilities, language-accessible training, and regular rest breaks in shaded or less-exposed areas when conditions reach dangerous thresholds.