Who does Colorado HB 26-1272 cover?

Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, agricultural employers, state and local governments, and entities that contract with five or more independent contractors in Colorado annually. It covers both indoor and outdoor work, which is a meaningful expansion from the agriculture-only scope that came before.

What covers Colorado construction and warehouse workers in heat today?

Federal OSHA, plus HB 26-1272's new coverage. Colorado does not run its own OSHA plan for private industry, so construction, warehousing, oil and gas, and manufacturing are enforced under the federal general duty clause and OSHA's Heat National Emphasis Program, which drives weather-triggered inspections. HB 26-1272 adds Colorado-level coverage and future rulemaking, not a break schedule you can follow today.

State compliance guide, updated 10 August 2026

Colorado Heat Rules for Workers

Q: Does Colorado have a heat standard for workers?

Yes, and it changed on August 12, 2026. House Bill 26-1272, the Extreme Temperatures Worker Protections Act, extends Colorado's temperature protections beyond agriculture to indoor and outdoor workers in every industry. The one prescriptive, enforceable trigger today remains the 80F agricultural rule under 7 CCR 1103-15. For everyone else HB 26-1272 sets up the framework first: data collection from January 15, 2027, and a model prevention plan by July 1, 2028.

Q: What does Colorado HB 26-1272 require employers to do right now?

Less than the headline suggests. The act took effect August 12, 2026 and directs the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics to collect temperature-related injury and illness data starting January 15, 2027, then publish a model Temperature-Related Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (TRIIPP) by July 1, 2028. It does not yet impose specific temperature thresholds or mandatory break schedules on non-agricultural employers. It does establish coverage and grant rulemaking authority, which is what future enforceable standards will be built on.

Q: What does Colorado's agricultural heat rule require at 80F?

On days when the worksite temperature is or is forecast to be at least 80F, agricultural employers must provide cool potable water and time to drink it, adequate shade as close to the worksite as practicable, paid rest and cool-down breaks, acclimatization procedures, and annual training. Additional precautions apply under increased risk conditions at 95F and above. Workers exposed 15 minutes or less in any hour are excepted.

Q: Is heat really a problem at Colorado's altitude?

Yes. Denver and the Front Range now see extended stretches above 95F, and altitude adds UV load and faster dehydration. Dry air evaporates sweat before a worker feels wet, so crews routinely under-drink relative to what they are losing, which is how people walk into heat exhaustion feeling fine.

Q: Do cooling vests count toward Colorado heat compliance?

Cooling vests are supplemental protection, not a substitute for the water, shade, and paid breaks the agricultural rule requires. For federal-OSHA-covered employers, active cooling documented in a written heat program is concrete evidence of controlling a known hazard under the general duty clause. With a state TRIIPP model coming in 2028, employers who document controls now will have less to retrofit later.

Short answer: As of 12 August 2026, Colorado's new extreme temperature law (HB 26-1272) covers workers in every industry, indoor and outdoor. But read the fine print: it builds a framework first. The only number you can act on today is still the 80°F agricultural trigger.

So the honest answer for a non-agricultural Colorado employer is that you are now covered by a state law that has not yet told you what to do. Federal OSHA is still what gets you cited.

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At a glance

Colorado's heat framework.

12 Aug 2026

HB 26-1272 in force

The Extreme Temperatures Worker Protections Act took effect. Coverage now reaches indoor and outdoor workers in every industry, not just agriculture.

80°F

The one live trigger

Agricultural worksites at or forecast to 80°F owe water, shade, paid cool-down breaks, acclimatization, and annual training under 7 CCR 1103-15. 95°F adds increased-risk precautions.

2027–28

The rest is phased

Injury data collection starts 15 January 2027. A model prevention plan (TRIIPP) is due 1 July 2028. No thresholds or break schedules for non-ag employers yet.

Federal

What still cites you

Colorado has no state OSHA plan for private industry. Construction, warehousing, and energy are enforced under the federal general duty clause and the Heat NEP.

Sources: Colorado General Assembly, HB26-1272; 7 CCR 1103-15 Agricultural Labor Conditions Rules (CDLE).

What the rule actually requires

Colorado, tier by tier.

Two regimes now run in parallel. Agriculture has a live 80°F trigger. Everyone else is newly covered by HB 26-1272 but is still waiting on thresholds, so federal OSHA is what bites.

80°F

Agriculture

Cool potable water and time to drink it
Shade as close to the worksite as practicable
Paid rest and cool-down breaks
Annual heat illness training

95°F

Increased risk

Additional precautions under the rule
More frequent cool-down periods

HB 26-1272

Everyone else

Covered from 12 August 2026, thresholds phased
Federal general duty clause still applies today

Colorado compliance: where do you stand?

0 of 8

Cool potable water plus the time to drink itAgricultural worksites at or forecast to 80°F.
Shade as close to the worksite as practicableNatural or artificial, both count.
Paid rest and cool-down breaks scheduledMore frequent as conditions intensify.
Acclimatization procedures for new workersRequired under the agricultural rules.
Annual heat illness training deliveredWorkers and supervisors.
Increased-risk precautions above 95°FA separate, higher tier in the rule.
Written heat plan even if you are not agriculturalHB 26-1272 covers you now; a plan is what federal OSHA looks for.
Emergency response procedure documentedAltitude and dry air hide dehydration.

Where cooling vests fit

Built for dry heat that lies to you.

Colorado's dry air evaporates sweat before anyone feels wet, which is exactly how crews walk into heat exhaustion feeling fine. Active cooling removes heat continuously instead of waiting for symptoms, and it works the same at 5,280 feet as at sea level.

Rule fitSupplements, never replaces, the shade + water + breaks the ag rule requires.
GDC evidenceDocumented active cooling strengthens a general duty clause defense for federal-covered employers.
8–12 hrFull shift with one battery swap, no ice logistics at a remote site.
Dry-air proofSolid-state cooling does not depend on humidity or evaporation.
Low-profileSub-3 lbs, works with a fall-arrest harness.

FAQ

Colorado heat rules: employer FAQ.

Does Colorado have a heat standard for workers?

Yes, and it changed on 12 August 2026. HB 26-1272, the Extreme Temperatures Worker Protections Act, extends Colorado's protections beyond agriculture to indoor and outdoor workers in every industry. The one prescriptive, enforceable trigger today is still the 80°F agricultural rule under 7 CCR 1103-15. For everyone else the act builds the framework first.

What does HB 26-1272 require employers to do right now?

Less than the headline suggests, and it is worth knowing that before you budget for it. The act directs the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics to collect temperature-related injury and illness data from 15 January 2027, then publish a model Temperature-Related Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (TRIIPP) by 1 July 2028. It does not yet set temperature thresholds or break schedules for non-agricultural employers. What it does do is establish coverage and grant rulemaking authority, which is the foundation every future enforceable standard will be built on.

Who does HB 26-1272 cover?

Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, agricultural employers, state and local governments, and entities contracting with five or more independent contractors in Colorado annually. It covers indoor and outdoor work alike, which is the real expansion from the agriculture-only scope that came before.

What does the 80°F agricultural rule require?

On days when the worksite temperature is, or is forecast to be, at least 80°F: cool potable water and the time to drink it, adequate shade as close to the worksite as practicable, paid rest and cool-down breaks, acclimatization procedures, and annual training. Increased-risk precautions kick in at 95°F. Workers exposed 15 minutes or less in any hour are excepted.

What covers Colorado construction and warehouse workers today?

Federal OSHA, plus the new state coverage. Colorado runs no state OSHA plan for private industry, so construction, warehousing, oil and gas, and manufacturing are enforced under the federal general duty clause and the Heat National Emphasis Program, which sends inspectors out on forecast triggers. HB 26-1272 adds Colorado-level coverage and future rulemaking, not a schedule you can follow this week.

Is heat really a problem at Colorado's altitude?

Yes, and the dryness is what makes it sneaky. Denver and the Front Range now hold above 95°F for stretches, and altitude adds UV load and faster fluid loss. Dry air evaporates sweat before anyone feels wet, so crews under-drink relative to what they are actually losing. That is how a worker walks into heat exhaustion feeling fine.

Do cooling vests count toward Colorado heat compliance?

They are supplemental protection, never a substitute for the water, shade, and paid breaks the agricultural rule requires. For federal-covered employers, active cooling documented in a written heat program is concrete evidence of controlling a known hazard. With a state TRIIPP model landing in 2028, whatever you document now is less to retrofit later. See the cooling vest comparison for what survives dry heat.

Colorado Heat Rules for Workers

Colorado's heat framework.

Colorado, tier by tier.

Colorado compliance: where do you stand?

Built for dry heat that lies to you.

Colorado heat rules: employer FAQ.

Keep reading.

Every State Heat Rule Compared

Federal OSHA Heat Standard

Cooling Vest Types Compared

Build cooling into your Colorado heat plan.