Phoenix, AZ – Today, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) stood in solidarity with Arizona workers and community advocates at a pivotal public hearing held by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (ADOSH) Advisory Committee. Testifiers called for immediate action to adopt a statewide enforceable heat standard that includes guaranteed access to water, shade, and rest on the job.

As part of the Arizona Heat Standards Coalition, National COSH brought a national perspective to this urgent local issue. Despite rising temperatures across the United States, there is still no federal heat standard. Arizona, which experiences some of the most extreme heat in the nation, also lacks a clear rule to protect workers from dangerous heat exposure.

The hearing was filled with powerful testimony from workers, advocates, and technical experts who shared first-hand experiences and data showing the devastating impact of extreme heat. Testifiers emphasized that the current reliance on voluntary guidance and the General Duty Clause has failed to prevent injuries and deaths.

“This wasn’t about policy talk. This was about survival,” said Tony Pineda, a Tucson-based roofer and We Rise! Fellow with the Josefina Ahumada Worker Center. “We’re not asking for anything complicated. Water, rest, and shade are basic needs. If you work in 115-degree heat without a break, you’re risking your life.”

“There were days I got so dizzy I couldn’t think straight. I got sick and couldn’t afford a doctor,” Pineda added. “We need rules. We need enforcement. And we need it now.” 

The hearing took place as Arizona’s Workplace Heat Safety Task Force finalizes recommendations to ADOSH. Coalition members made it clear: the next step must be formal rulemaking in 2026 to implement a statewide standard with proven protective measures.

“We already know what works,” said Jessica E Martinez, Executive Director at National COSH. “Water. Shade. Rest. Acclimatization. Training. These are simple, evidence-based steps. But without a standard, they are not guaranteed. They are not enforceable.”

Data from other states shows the life-saving impact of heat standards. In California, enforcement of a heat safety rule reduced workplace heat-related deaths by 33 percent. Oregon saw emergency room visits for heat illness drop significantly after its standard took effect. 

A recent national study also found that high heat is linked to approximately 28,000 excess workplace injuries each year. But that risk is far lower in states with heat standards. For example, on days with a heat index of 110 degrees or more, injury rates rose by 22 percent in states with no rule, compared to only 9 percent in states that had one.

“The science is clear. The stories are heartbreaking. And the solution is right in front of us,” said Martinez. “Arizona must act now to adopt an enforceable heat standard before another worker collapses on the job.”

National COSH’s participation underscored the national implications of Arizona’s next steps. In the absence of a federal rule, state-level leadership is critical to protect workers from rising temperatures driven by climate change.

“This is a historic opportunity,” said Martinez. “Arizona can set the bar. It’s time for the state to stop dragging its feet and start protecting lives.”