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Safety First: 2024’s Safest States for Outdoor Workers

Guest Author

By Sav Maive | Updated: August 21, 2024

Which states take “safety first” seriously for outdoor jobs?

With the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recently proposed rule for federal heat protections, Lawn Love ranked 2024’s Safest States for Outdoor Workers.

We compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 5 categories. We looked at legislation protecting workers from extreme weather conditions, whistleblower retaliation rights, and employment benefits. We also considered the number of work-related injuries and fatalities, in addition to climate, among 26 total metrics.

See where your state stands in our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the states, see our methodology.

Key insights

21 states stay prepared with their own OSHA-approved state safety plans, protecting both private and government employees. 8 states require 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA training, which informs and trains workers and supervisors on dealing with typical safety and health hazards.

Statistics show about 2,000 deaths and 170,000 injuries result each year from laboring in extreme heat in the U.S. Only 4 states — Washington (No. 1), Oregon (No. 2), California (No. 4), and Colorado (No. 12) — have laws protecting outdoor workers from extreme heat.

Some states are going so far as to pass legislation preventing local counties and cities from improving work safety standards.

  • In July, HB 433 went into effect in Florida (No. 50), specifically banning local heat protections — rest breaks, hydration, safety training, and acclimatization — for workers. Local advocates say Florida farmworkers commonly wear diapers and avoid drinking water at work out of fear of being harassed or fired for taking a break. Florida ranks 41st in union membership with 4.7% of workers in labor unions.
  • Texas (No. 39) has the most hot days, averaging 104 days above 90 degrees annually. The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act passed in 2023, preventing cities from enacting a broad range of local regulations, including mandated rest and water breaks and safety training.
  • Texas ranks 43rd in union membership with 4.5% of laborers with union representation. The Lone Star State also has the lowest share of workers with health insurance and claims the 12th highest number of severe work-related injuries per 100,000 residents in our ranking.

Hot and humid Southeastern states — Mississippi (No. 48), Alabama (No. 49), and Florida (No. 50) — land at the bottom of our ranking, alongside Arkansas, in last place. On top of a challenging climate, these states have low rates of both union membership and workers with health insurance, and high rates of severe work-related injuries per 100,000 residents.

Standout stats

  • Michigan (No. 6) scores near the top with the highest workers’ compensation payout, about 77% of the worker’s weekly wage.
  • Hawaii (No. 10) claims the highest union membership rate, 24.1%, followed by New York (No. 5) and Washington (No. 1).
  • Ohio (No. 38) businesses have the most willful or repeated fines, 533, worth $40,000 or more each — totaling over $50.6 million.
  • North Dakota (No. 46) had the most work-related severe injuries in 2022 — 10.9 per 100,000 residents — followed by Nebraska (No. 37) and South Dakota (No. 42). Wyoming (No. 30) had the most work-related fatalities, 5.9 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Ask the Experts

We turned to a panel of experts for tips on working in hot conditions and how federal heat protections might impact business in the U.S. Read their insights below.

  • What are your best 3 tips for outdoor workers to stay cool while laboring outside in the heat?
  • How can workers best advocate for their health and safety while working in the heat or other hazardous weather conditions?
  • What are 3 ways companies and employers might be impacted — positively or negatively — by implementing safety measures like providing water or shaded breaks during extreme weather conditions?
  • Why are states like Florida preventing local governments from requiring companies to implement safe work conditions during extreme heat?
  • How could Biden’s proposed rule for protecting workers from excessive heat impact small businesses and/or economic regions where hot weather is most common?
  • What are the three biggest risks outdoor workers face on the job?
  • What steps should an employee take if they feel like their work environment is unsafe?