Tucson Standard

Published on June 4, 2024

TUCSON, AZ.—Under the leadership of Mayor Regina Romero, the Tucson City Council has adopted a Heat Action Roadmap and a Heat Protection Ordinance for City Contractors. These initiatives aim to enhance the city's capacity to manage extreme heat and build resilience for future conditions. The Heat Action Roadmap is part of the implementation of "Tucson Resilient Together," the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. It includes three primary goals: informing, preparing, and protecting people; cooling homes and community centers; and cooling Tucson neighborhoods.

In September 2023, Mayor Romero and the Council directed the creation of heat protection provisions for city workers and contractors. This included strategies to prevent heat-related illnesses among City of Tucson workers and mandatory training for supervisors in all city departments to implement heat-protection protocols.

“Through the Heat Action Roadmap and Worker Heat Protection Ordinance, the City of Tucson is leading with urgency, putting forward concrete actions to protect public health, our economy, and the Sonoran Desert,” said Mayor Romero. “As the daughter of immigrant farm workers growing up in Somerton, Arizona, I saw first-hand how extreme heat impacted loved ones working in triple-digit temperatures. These experiences shaped me.”

Tucson is among the fastest-warming cities in the United States. Recent data highlights an urgent need to build heat resilience as summer 2023 set a record for most days above 110°F. Such conditions pose significant health risks, increase mortality rates, and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including children, elderly individuals, unhoused persons, outdoor workers, and those with preexisting health conditions.

"Adopting the Heat Action Roadmap marks a significant milestone for Tucson," said City Manager Timothy Thomure. "This roadmap outlines practical short-term solutions while building capacity for long-term resilience."

"I am honored to have collaborated with community members across sectors to develop this roadmap," said Chief Resilience Officer Fatima Luna. "I look forward to continued coordination with local partners to provide heat relief this summer."

Currently, there are no federal laws specifically protecting workers from extreme heat. OSHA recommends frequent breaks but does not mandate them. Although federal rulemaking on heat safety rules was announced in 2021 by OSHA, it could take years before they are implemented.

The full text of both documents can be accessed through provided links.

For further inquiries or issues:

City of Tucson

255 W. Alameda St.

Tucson, Arizona 85701

Call: 311 or visit Tucson 311