Arizona employers are taking a proactive, collaborative approach to workplace heat safety that recognizes the realities of diverse industries and job sites across the state.
Gov. Katie Hobbs on December 31 announced that the Workplace Heat Safety Task Force had finalized and submitted its recommendations to the Industrial Commission of Arizona, delivering a set of Heat Guidelines for Employers grounded in real-world best practices and Arizona-specific conditions .
The task force, which was convened by a 2025 executive order, brought together leaders from business, labor, and industry, along with occupational safety and health experts, to develop commonsense guidance for employers.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Arizona Manufacturers Council participated in the process to ensure that employer perspectives were front and center throughout the discussions.
The finalized recommendations focus on proven strategies to prevent heat-related illness, including access to water, shade, and rest; employee acclimatization; and heat safety training. Importantly for Arizona employers, the guidelines also clarify definitions, outline best practices for employer Heat Illness Prevention Plans, and include specific exemptions for emergency operations, recognizing that not all job sites or industries face the same conditions.
For the Arizona Chamber and the Arizona Manufacturers Council, participation in the task force was about ensuring that worker safety and economic sustainability go hand in hand.
“This task force brought together employers, workers, and subject-matter experts from across Arizona to focus on what actually works in real workplaces,” said Grace Appelbe, executive director of the Arizona Manufacturers Council and director of government affairs at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “The recommendations reflect commonsense best practices many employers already use and provide clear, Arizona-specific guidance that prioritizes worker safety while recognizing the diversity of industries and job sites across our state.”
That emphasis on flexibility was a consistent theme throughout task force discussions, particularly for sectors like manufacturing, construction, utilities, and small business, where work environments, schedules, and operational demands can vary significantly.
Next steps, ongoing implementation
Following the task force’s work, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) will take additional steps to implement the governor’s executive order, including publishing annual data on heat-related claims, complaints, and citations, and providing downloadable template heat plans to help employers put the guidance into practice.
The ADOSH Advisory Committee is scheduled to review the recommendations at a public meeting on February 4 before they advance to the Industrial Commission for final consideration later this spring.
Appelbe said that for Arizona’s business community, the Workplace Heat Safety Task Force demonstrates the value of collaboration over mandates.
“By bringing employers, workers, and regulators to the same table, the state has produced guidance that improves safety outcomes without undermining productivity or imposing rigid, one-size-fits-all rules,” she said.
Appelbe said the Arizona Chamber and the Arizona Manufacturers Council will continue to engage with state agencies and stakeholders as these recommendations move forward, ensuring that Arizona remains both a safe place to work and a competitive place to do business.
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