Massachusetts Senate Bill 3240 was introduced, which proposes the establishment of extreme temperature worker protections.

According to the bill, when the heat index in the work area exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must provide shaded areas, free drinking water, and thermometers. When the heat index reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit, workers must receive paid 10-minute cooldown breaks; a 100-degree heat index would require the same breaks every hour.

When temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must provide heated break areas and allow workers to take warm-up breaks.

The bill also includes stipulations regarding acclimatization periods, training to monitor for temperature-related illness, and the requirement to maintain records on temperature-related illnesses and deaths.

If enacted, this bill would apply to public and private workers, independent contractors, app-based delivery drivers, farmworkers, temporary workers, and seasonal workers.