# Amendment of Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 140 regarding heat illness prevention in outdoor places of employment [Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Workforce Development](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/workforce-development) › [49th Ward: Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) Clerk's short name: Heat-Related Illness Prevention in Outdoor Places of Employment Ordinance - Record number: **SO2023-0004210** - Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments - Status: Council Consideration (Deferred and Published) - Sponsor: [Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) (49th Ward) - Co-sponsors (3): [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (47th Ward), [Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/33) (33rd Ward), [Michael D. Rodriguez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/22) (22nd Ward) - Committee: [Committee on Workforce Development](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/workforce-development) - Submitted Date: Sep 14, 2023 - Introduction Date: Sep 14, 2023 - Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=BC4E1D2D-1653-EE11-BE6E-001DD809716C) ## Impact report > Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/f211b87a-bc62-4d98-970a-bcf3b70707e2.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins. This ordinance would require Chicago employers to give outdoor workers shade, water, cool-down breaks, heat safety training, and emergency help when the heat index is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. **Who it affects** - **Outdoor workers, including City and Sister Agency employees**: They would get free water, access to shade, cool-down breaks, heat training in their preferred language, and a written heat safety plan. - **Employers with outdoor workers**: They would have to provide shade and water, set up high-heat and emergency procedures, train staff, keep illness records for five years, and post notices of workers' rights. - **Workers designated to monitor others**: They would receive annual training and watch up to 20 outdoor workers each for signs of heat-related illness. - **New outdoor workers**: They would be observed by a designated worker during their first 14 days of work in hot months to make sure they adjust to the heat. - **Unionized construction workers**: Construction workers covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement would not be covered by this ordinance. - **Emergency workers**: Workers doing emergency operations and City Fire, Police, and Office of Emergency Management and Communications employees would not be covered. **What changes** - When the heat index is 90 degrees or higher, outdoor workers would get a mandatory 15-minute cool-down break in the shade every two hours. - Employers would have to provide cool water at every shift, with water stations no more than 0.25 miles from where people work on large sites. - Employers would have to adjust job quotas so workers can take cool-down rests, and these rests could not cut into meal breaks. - Employers with three or more violations on three different days within 12 months could be found ineligible for City contracts or lose their license. - Workers could file complaints through a system connected to the City's 311 service. **Money** - Employers who violate the rules would pay a fine of $500 to $1,000 per offense, with each day of a violation counted as a separate offense. - Starting January 1, 2028, outdoor workers could sue employers for three times their lost wages from heat-related illness, plus medical costs, interest, court costs, and attorney's fees. - Employers must provide water to outdoor workers at no cost. **When**: January 1, 2027 ## Timeline - Sep 14, 2023: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee. - Sep 22, 2025: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Workforce Development. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body. - Sep 22, 2025: Substituted - Sep 25, 2025: Deferred and Published, City Council. On request of Alderperson Rodriguez and Alderperson Hadden, the matter was Deferred and Published. ## Documents - [Committe Letter SO2023-0004210 Workforce.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/f99c5376-e3e0-4314-a1e9-5f8ddfe9358c.pdf) (Committee Letter) - [SO2023-0004210\_Clean\_(Ald. Hadden).pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/d32aee8e-e3e5-4880-9fc0-637e141a0138.pdf) (Legislation) - [SO2023\_0004210 Substitute Ordinance.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/f211b87a-bc62-4d98-970a-bcf3b70707e2.pdf) (Legislation) - [W49 - O4210 Code 6-140.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/07a60ec4-2717-4e28-9bb4-a6cbae726e10.pdf) (Legislation) ## Lobbying and money > Computed links; money near a vote is not evidence that it influenced the vote. **Who lobbied on it** - Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce: SO2026-0024043 (SUPPORT); SO2023-0004210 (OPPOSE); (1 filing, Apr 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2026; Carl Gutierrez; matched by record number) - Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC: SO2023-0004210 (1 filing, Jul 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2026; Grant Klinzman; matched by record number) **Alderpersons who received money from these interests** | Member | Amount | From | | --- | --- | --- | | [James M. Gardiner](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/45) | $2,000 | Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce (company) | | [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) | $2,000 | Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce (company) | | [Pat Dowell](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/3) | $1,000 | Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce (company) | | [Stephanie D. Coleman](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/16) | $1,000 | Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce (company) | | [Ronnie L. Mosley](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/21) | $1,000 | Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce (company) | | [Samantha Nugent](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/39) | $1,000 | Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce (company) | ## Related legislation **More from Maria E. Hadden** - [Amendment of Annual Appropriation Ordinance to transfer of funds from 49th Ward Aldermanic Expense Account to Wage Allowance Account for…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029438-annual-appropriation-ordinance-transfer-funds-49th) (O2026-0029438, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred) - [Call on City of Chicago departments to prioritize heat mitigation, maintain and expand cooling centers, and install heat-resilient…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0028725-call-city-chicago-departments-prioritize-heat) (R2026-0028725, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Adopted) - [Call on Illinois General Assembly to pass POWER Act, House Bill 5513](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SR2026-0028728-call-illinois-general-assembly-pass-power) (SR2026-0028728, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Adopted) **More on Municipal Code Amendments** - [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-24-065 regarding ability to pay pilot program](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029654-regarding-ability-pay-pilot-program) (O2026-0029654, introduced Dec 8, 2026, Council Introduction) - [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4 and 8 regarding technical and scriveners' corrections (2027 Municipal Code Corrections Ordinance)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029649-titles-3-4-8-regarding-technical) (O2026-0029649, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred) - [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 15, 17 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029644-titles-2-4-6-7-8) (O2026-0029644, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred) Sources and methods: [how we get and count this data](/about#methods) · [report an error](/about#corrections) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2023-0004210-title-6-140-regarding-heat-illness · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. 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