A proposed bill in the Illinois General Assembly that would have imposed far-reaching workplace temperature regulations has been stopped. The bill, HB 3762, would have applied to both indoor and outdoor workplaces and would have required employers to provide various amenities to employees, including shelter, rest breaks, and personal protective equipment.

Proposed Regulations

The proposed regulations would have kicked in when the temperature dropped to 32°F or lower or rose to 79°F or higher for outdoor workplaces. For indoor workplaces, the regulations would have taken effect at 65 degrees or lower if light work was being performed and at 60 degrees or lower if heavy work was being performed. Employers would have been required to provide warm non-caffeinated beverages, water cooler than 61 degrees, and personal protective equipment, such as cooling vests and insulated gloves.

Small business owners and organizations, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), opposed the bill, citing the significant costs and administrative burdens it would have imposed. The NFIB Illinois State Director noted that the proposed regulations would have shut down small businesses, as they lack the administrative capacity to implement all the requirements and would have been subject to expensive civil fines and lawsuits.

Original reporting: NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) — read the source article.