It’s not just a dry heat in Las Vegas — it’s a deadly one.
The punishing triple-digit temperatures of the Mojave Desert take a toll on those who work outdoors, like construction workers, Strip pool attendants and landscapers. And for years, even though hundreds of Nevadans have died from heat-related illnesses, the state hasn’t required companies to protect them.
That might change in 2024.
After a state bill failed in the last legislative session that would have spurred regulations to shield workers from temperatures above 105 degrees, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration is working on new requirements that would force businesses to set their own rules relative to heat.
Rather than lobby for support in the next session, OSHA will present a proposal to the Nevada Legislative Commission before the end of the year, circumventing the need for multiple committee votes or governor approval.
“We live in Nevada and have all experienced the heat every day in the summertime,” said Victoria Carreón, a state administrator who oversees OSHA. “It’s important to be ready to deal with it and prevent heat illnesses that could be catastrophic for workers.”
Deaths, complaints more than double in Southern Nevada
Perhaps the best indicator of the need for new rules is exhibited by the number of heat complaints that Nevada’s workers filed with OSHA last year.
There were 346 complaints filed in 2023, nearly a 65 percent increase from the amount filed in 2022.
Past Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting found that most complaints are generally from those who work indoors over issues like hot ovens and broken air conditioning. The number of complaints peaks in July, when temperatures are the hottest.
And so-called extreme heat, or abnormally high temperatures, is only worsening across the nation as the world’s carbon emissions change the climate.
An Associated Press analysis found that 2023 was the deadliest year on record across the country when it came to heat-related deaths. Southern Nevada is no different.
The Clark County coroner’s office tallied 307 deaths related to heat last year — a more than 80 percent increase from 2022, according to data obtained by the Review-Journal. A spokeswoman said the county began to investigate deaths that could be heat-related in more detail in 2021.
Dan Burc, a National Weather Service meteorologist in charge of issuing heat warnings in Las Vegas, said at a county press conference in early May that the city hasn’t experienced a record low temperature since June 1999.
Some summer days, temperatures won’t dip below 90 degrees even at the coolest hour, he said.
“You can’t ignore the fact that our climate is changing,” Burc said. “The data shows that we are heating up over time.”
Nevada takes unique approach to worker protections
Though other states have protections that are activated once a certain temperature threshold has been passed, Nevada is taking a different, unique approach.
If passed, every company would evaluate the needs of its workers and submit a heat action plan, said Carreón, the state administrator. This means much of what each company decides would be on its own terms, though OSHA would have the power to hold the company to its promises.
In other states like Texas and Florida, Republican-dominated legislatures and governors have stifled efforts to create mandatory heat protections in local governments, often because of pressure from industry leaders.
However, in Nevada, Carreón said OSHA is working directly with business leaders and trade groups that represent sectors that would be affected.
“Everybody wants to make sure they’re very cognizant that we are in Nevada, and this is a very hot environment,” Carreón said. “The stakeholders involved want to make sure workers are protected.”
Federally, a spokesperson said the Department of Labor is initiating the process to create a national heat standard that would be triggered by temperature thresholds. It likely would mean more breaks when it gets hotter.
The specifics of the national rule are still being decided, but it could add to what’s required of Nevada workplaces beyond a self-decided, company-specific plan. Nevada’s proposal still has more hurdles to pass, including more meetings and a Legislative Commission hearing.
Contact Alan at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A string of deadly crashes in and around Pahrump has prompted Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill to push for more safety measures along dark, sidewalk-free roads.
“The worst penalty is death, if you consider that,” McGill said.
The recent deaths include a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 160 during the morning hours of the last Wednesday in January that killed one person and injured another.
Then, into February, two pedestrians were killed in less than three days.
The first was a 7 p.m. crash on Quarter Horse Avenue. Investigators believe a 2006 Jeep Liberty was driving on the street when it hit a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A few days later, this last Saturday, state troopers responded to a crash just after sundown at Charleston Park Avenue. A sedan hit a pedestrian, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Nevada State Police investigators are still investigating both pedestrian cases before more details are released.
McGill said the recent crashes were enough to spur action.
“When the third one came out, I was sitting at home and watching TV. I looked at my wife and I said, ‘We got to do something about this,’” McGill said.
McGill is responding with a reflective vest giveaway, pointing to limited infrastructure as a possible factor. He noted a lack of street lights off State Route 160 and no sidewalks inside the community.
“The only light that you have is the ambient light from houses and cars so it is really dark,” McGill said.
John Treanor of AAA Nevada said poor visibility can quickly turn dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.
“It is very easy to be confronted with a situation that you cannot see coming because the visibility might be bad,” Treanor said.
Treanor encouraged pedestrians to carry lights and drivers to be prepared if they end up outside their vehicles in dark conditions.
“Having lights on you. Even carrying a flashlight allows something where a driver can see it,” Treanor said. “If you are a driver, make sure you have the right stuff in your car, in case you do get in a situation where you are on the side of the road and now you are in dark. Make sure you have a kit with some reflectors, some lights. Anything the trunk of your car in case you need it.”
McGill said vigilance is important even in daylight.
“Any time of the day, you have got to be vigilant. You have to keep aware of your surroundings if you are a walker or on a bicycle or if you are the driver,” he said.
Authorities also urged caution as more people may pull off roads in rocky areas along the route toward Death Valley National Park during springtime blooms, increasing the need for drivers and pedestrians to stay alert.
A waterfront mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe just sold for $46 million, less than three weeks after hitting the market.
The speedy deal marks a departure from the typical U.S. market.
Nationwide, homes took a median 78 days to land a buyer in January, five more than the same time last year and the 22nd straight month of homes taking longer to sell on a year-over-year basis, according to data from Realtor.com.
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The lavish log cabin-like residence, in Incline Village, listed on Jan. 24 for $47.5 million. It sold 20 days later, on Feb. 13, listing records show.
The more than 7,000-square-foot residence was built in 2014, and has double-height living spaces, walls of windows, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, and plenty of rustic exposed stone and wood, listing images show.
There’s also a gym, a wet bar, a spa, a wine room, an office, two separate game rooms, seven bedrooms and dramatic Lake Tahoe views. Outside, there’s a private sandy beach, multiple decks, a heated driveway and two exterior fireplaces, according to listing information.
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The seller and the buyer are both limited liability companies, according to property records. Both parties were represented by Jeff Brown of Tahoe Mountain Realty, who declined to comment on the deal.
The median home price in Incline Village was $1.595 million as of December, a fall of 3.3% from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com. Listings, meanwhile, spent an average of 130 days on the market.
Updated February 26, 2026 – 8:28 pm
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Green Valley’s softball team claimed an 8-6 win at Liberty on Thursday on the first day of high school spring sports competition in Nevada.
Green Valley next hosts Silverado at 3 p.m. Friday. Liberty plays at Bishop Gorman at 3 p.m. Friday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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