Virginia’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard

Virginia is developing a workplace safety standard to help protect workers from heat illness in both indoor and outdoor workplaces.

The 2026 General Assembly enacted legislation requiring the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt a Heat Illness Prevention Standard by May 1, 2028. The standard will establish requirements for employers to help prevent heat-related illness, including providing drinking water, access to shade or climate-controlled areas when practicable, rest breaks, acclimatization, employee training, emergency response procedures, and additional protections during high-heat conditions. (§ 40.1-44.2. Standards for heat illness prevention)

Developing the Standard

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), under the direction of the Safety and Health Codes Board, is developing the proposed standard through Virginia’s regulatory process. As part of this process, the Department is gathering technical information, stakeholder perspectives, and public input to help inform the proposed regulation.

There will be multiple opportunities for public participation throughout the rulemaking process. One such opportunity is to participate in a Regulatory Advisory Panel (RAP), which will provide technical input as DOLI develops the proposed standard.

Regulatory Advisory Panel (RAP)

The Regulatory Advisory Panel will provide technical expertise, practical experience, and stakeholder perspectives to advise DOLI as it develops the proposed Heat Illness Prevention Standard. The panel’s recommendations will help inform the Department’s work; however, DOLI and the Safety and Health Codes Board remain responsible for developing and adopting the regulation.

We encourage recommendations for individuals with diverse backgrounds and experience, including worker advocates, labor organizations, employers, industry representatives, safety and health professionals, academic experts, and others with knowledge of workplace heat illness prevention.

State law requires:

• At least half of the panel’s members to be employee advocates and employee stakeholders
• Representation from agriculture and other business industries
• Representation from public institutions of higher education

Recommend a RAP Member

DOLI is accepting recommendations for individuals who may be interested in serving on the Regulatory Advisory Panel.

You may recommend yourself or another qualified individual by completing the recommendation form below. Submission of a recommendation does not guarantee appointment to the panel.

What Happens Next?

After the submission period closes, DOLI will review all recommendations and appoint panel members in accordance with the requirements of the law, relevant expertise, and the need for balanced stakeholder representation.

For questions, please contact Cristin Bernhardt, Regulatory Coordinator at Cristin.Bernhardt@doli.virginia.gov.