The Worksite Safety Policy will now mandate 15-minute water breaks every two hours when the temperature is 90 degrees or higher. (kittirat roekburi/Shutterstock)
We’ve all fallen victim to getting overheated during a Texas summer (and even sometimes a Texas fall), but many of us are able to escape the heat by working from our homes or an air conditioned office. For those who labor outdoors and don’t have the same luxury, a new policy will bring some relief to workers in Harris County.
Approved by Harris County commissioners at a Nov. 13 court meeting, the Worksite Safety Policy will now mandate 15-minute water breaks every two hours when the temperature is 90 degrees or higher. So far in 2025, Houston experienced 134 days where the temperature was at least 90 degrees.
Other key provisions, according to the Precinct 4 website, include:
- Mandatory site-specific safety plans and heat illness prevention and response plans for all worksites
- Ten-minute paid rest breaks for every four hours worked
- Scheduled and unannounced inspections by trained County Monitors authorized to issue stop work orders for unsafe conditions
- Free personal protective equipment for all workers
- A worker safety hotline with strong anti-retaliation protections for employees
- A Worksite Safety Committee, including representatives from labor, contractors, and County departments, to review trends and recommend improvements
In the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas reported 564 fatal injuries in 2023, with almost half of them being due to transportation incidents. This was the highest amount of fatal injuries reported across the country that year.
The policy will go into effect Jan. 1 and will apply to county-funded construction, rehabilitation, or maintenance projects valued at $1 million or more, and subcontracts of $100,000 or more.
“As a Houston business owner, general contractor, and member of the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, I know safe work sites mean fewer accidents, fewer delays, and stronger businesses,” said Vladimir Naranjo, Regional Hispanic Contractors Association board member. “I am proud to stand with the County and labor leaders to support these standards. I encourage contractors to invest in worker safety because it protects people, improves productivity, and strengthens the bottom line.”
