In the face of rising temperatures, New York City is taking decisive action to protect its outdoor workforce. With extreme heat claiming the lives of at least four construction workers in New York state in 2026 alone, the city is stepping up to address this growing crisis. The most vulnerable are the 1.4 million people who work outdoors, many of whom are immigrants of color.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has signed an executive order to combat the dangers of extreme heat, marking a historic first for the city. This initiative aims to safeguard workers who build the city’s skyline, deliver packages, and feed its residents.
Strengthening Heat Safety Requirements
The executive order directs the Department of Buildings (DOB) to review and strengthen construction site heat safety requirements. The DOB is expected to provide recommendations to the mayor by March 1, 2027. Additionally, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will enforce existing labor protections for outdoor workers, ensuring access to bathrooms and proper reporting during extreme heat.
To raise awareness, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)New York City Emergency Management and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services will develop multilingual heat safety educational materials. These materials will be distributed to workers and employers, with outdoor worker materials due by the end of 2026 and indoor worker materials due by March 1, 2027.
Comprehensive Heat Illness Prevention Plans
Every mayoral agency will be required to develop and implement a heat illness prevention plan for all municipal employees and city contractors. The DOHMH will also study the relationship between extreme heat and workers’ compensation claims, evaluating whether heat illness should be designated a reportable health condition.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “No one should have to choose between their paycheck and their health. The workers building our skyline, delivering our packages, and feeding our neighbors deserve to come home safe at the end of every shift and deserve a City government that will safeguard their health and well-being during extreme heat.”
Worker Advocacy and Organizing
The executive order comes as workers across the city have been organizing for better protections against extreme heat. Airport workers at LaGuardia Airport for instance, have been advocating for safer working conditions. John Mosquera, a 26-year-old Dominican cargo worker, fainted on the job during a 10-hour shift on a 98-degree day. His employer, Alliance Ground International (AGI) failed to file a report, highlighting the need for stronger protections.
Mosquera celebrated the mayor’s heat protection order, stating, “I’ve worked at LaGuardia Airport for years, and I can tell you the heat on that tarmac is no joke. Today, Mayor Mamdani is paying attention, and that means everything to me and to workers like me across this city.”
Manny Pastreich President of 32BJ SEIU also praised the executive order, noting that it is an important step to hold employers accountable and ensure worker safety.
The executive order is particularly significant given the stalled efforts at the state level to pass the TEMP Act which would create workplace temperature protections across New York state. Introduced by State Senator Jessica Ramos in 2026, the bill aims to mandate basic heat protections like water, shade, and air conditioning.
At the federal level, efforts to finalize a rule proposed by Deputy Mayor Julie Su in 2026 have stalled. The rule would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan in workplaces affected by excessive heat. Now, Deputy Mayor Su has the opportunity to advance worker protections at the city level.
Deputy Mayor Su emphasized the administration’s commitment to worker protection, stating, “Worker protection is the foundation of everything this administration stands for. Heat doesn’t discriminate, but its consequences do, falling hardest on the workers who already face the steepest climb. Today, we are making clear that the dignity of every worker in this city is worth protecting, whether they are building our skyline, delivering our packages, or stocking our shelves.”
