Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs issued Executive Order 2025-09, which establishes a Workplace Heat Safety Taskforce to protect workers from heat-related risks.

Led by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the Task Force will include safety experts, industry leaders, and worker representatives, and is expected to issue employer guidelines by the end of the year.

This builds on the Industrial Commission of Arizona’s 2023 Heat Stress State Emphasis Program, which has already contributed to a decline in heat-related workers' compensation claims.

Data from the WCRI, NCCI, and New York State Insurance Fund have demonstrated how increases in heat lead to higher frequencies of workplace injuries. Many states have recently proposed heat protection bills, while OSHA is currently working to update federal regulations. The implementation of such measures could help to lower the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries, enhancing worker safety and reducing claims and costs in the workers’ comp system.