Title
Extreme Heat
Discussion/Direction/Action: Rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and deteriorating indoor and outdoor air quality adversely affect human health. People with heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and those who work outdoors are particularly susceptible to the adverse impacts of extreme heat due to climate change.
Pima County is projected to experience 160 days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit by 2035. In 2023, there was a total of 176 heat-related deaths in Pima County.
Individuals whose work requires them to work outdoors or in environments lacking access to air conditioning are at higher risk of heat-related illness, injuries, or death.
Directing the Pima County Administration to:
• Develop requirements for County Departments to implement by June 3, 2024, for to bring back to the BOS by June 4th, a plan for protecting employees from heat-related health issues as delineated in the March 26, 2024, City of Phoenix Heat Ordinance applying to external contractors.
• Immediately develop and carry out Develop a public campaign to be shared at the BOS meeting June 4th, inform all that would inform local businesses what the Pima County is doing to protect its employees from extreme heat and encourage them to undertake similar measures.
• Develop and implement a plan for County enforcement of internal and external mandates for protecting workers from extreme heat, and
• Develop language for inclusion in all future contracts that would require their adoption of Heat Plans to protect workers from extreme heat, working with the Departments of Health, Procurement, and Risk Management and focus groups with employees who work a significant portion of their routine day to create language. (District 5)