States Take Lead on Heat and Violence Rules

With little progress at the federal level, a growing number of states are implementing their own workplace safety standards for heat exposure and violence prevention—creating a patchwork of compliance requirements for employers, particularly those operating across state lines.

In March, lawmakers in Kentucky and Virginia advanced workplace safety legislation, reflecting a broader trend of states embracing deregulation or stepping in to fill perceived gaps in federal policy. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been working on federal standards for heat exposure and workplace violence, progress has been slow.

Earlier this year, SHRM submitted a public comment on OSHA’s proposed heat rule, urging the agency to establish clear, consistent, and enforceable standards to help protect workers from heat-related illnesses. In the absence of a finalized federal rule, New Mexico recently introduced its own standard, joining seven other states—California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—with existing heat standards. At least eight states are also considering proposal of workplace violence rules in 2025.

The result is a growing compliance burden for multistate employers, who must navigate a patchwork of inconsistent and often conflicting state requirements.