Bill 36: Heat Stress Act, 2025

This bill affects virtually every employer in Ontario across all industries — from construction crews and manufacturing plants to agricultural operations, auto repair shops, and even schools. If your workers are exposed to hot conditions, whether outdoors in summer or indoors near ovens, machinery, or poorly ventilated spaces, you'll need to develop a Heat Stress and Protection Policy, conduct regular heat stress assessments, provide approved training to employees and supervisors, and supply personal protective equipment like cooling vests and access to cool drinking water at your own expense. Size doesn't exempt anyone — solo operators with even one employee, small shops, and large employers alike must comply — though the burden of conducting assessments, purchasing equipment, and paying workers their regular rate during mandated rest breaks and training will hit smaller businesses with tighter margins hardest.