Heat has become the leading weather-related killer in the United States. Death certificates show that “more than 14,000 Americans have died directly from heat-related causes since 1979,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Heat exhaustion, dehydration, heat stroke, and heat-related illnesses can be agonizing for people on a normal day, so just imagine how extreme heat affects those who have to labor in heat daily, for hours at a time.
The Biden administration has announced a docket of new actions designed to help individuals and communities deal with the heat. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Department of Labor, the administration is proposing a new rule that would set federal safety standards regarding the amount of excessive heat workers have to put up with in the workplace.
The administration says that if the new rules are finalized, they could protect up to 36 million U.S. workers from excessive heat.
The proposed new rules require employers to have injury and illness prevention plans in place so they can deal with workplace heat hazards. Employers will also be required to provide mandatory rest and water breaks when dealing with high heat conditions.
“Every worker should come home safe and healthy at the end of the day, which is why the Biden-Harris administration is taking this significant step to protect workers from the dangers posed by extreme heat,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su in a statement. “As the most pro-worker administration in history, we are committed to ensuring that those doing difficult work in some of our economy’s most critical sectors are valued and kept safe in the workplace.”
“Outdoor workers, particularly those engaging in strenuous physical activity, disproportionately face greater heat-related health threats,” the EPA said in its latest “Climate Change Indicators” report. “For example, construction workers represent only 6% of the total U.S. workforce, yet they account for more than one-third of all reported occupational deaths associated with heat exposure. Farmworkers also have disproportionately high rates of heat-related illnesses and deaths. Worker safety and productivity will likely be increasingly challenged as temperatures outdoors continue to rise.”
The EPA said to reduce risks, employers can implement preventive measures like consistent availability of drinking water, frequent work breaks, and training workers to recognize signs of heat-related illnesses, as well as limiting work hours during times when temperatures are known to peak.
The newly proposed federal standards follow a national campaign created as far back as 2011 to urge the federal government to do more to protect workers from the impacts of climate change. Up to 130 organizations, including Public Citizen; the United Farm Workers Foundation; United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America; and Farmworker Justice, have called on the government to spotlight how susceptible workers are to the effects of excessive heat and that they could be liable to injury and death while just trying to earn a living.
“The new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on excessive heat in the workplace that President Biden announced today will save lives,” asserted the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union in a statement. “The solutions to heat-related injuries are common-sense: hydration, shade, and rest breaks. But most employers won’t implement them voluntarily and Republican governors, including Ron DeSantis in Florida and Greg Abbott in Texas, have blocked local governments from implementing these protections.
“The consequences are tragic. Last summer, Gabriel Infante died on the job while working for a contractor, digging a trench to move internet fiber in San Antonio. He became confused and dizzy in the high humidity under the hot summer sun. His co-workers tried to help him by cooling him down with water, but his supervisor thought he was on drugs and wanted to call the police. He died at the hospital from a severe heatstroke.”
“OSHA’s proposed standard contains common-sense safeguards, including regular rest breaks and hydration, that will not only save lives but prevent countless illnesses and injuries,” added United Steelworkers International President David McCall. “While unions regularly negotiate these kinds of protections for their members, the new standard would set a high national bar and expand coverage for millions more workers at a time when the country is experiencing record heat waves triggered by climate change.”OSHA encourages anyone who wants to add their views about the dangers of excessive heat and climate change and how new federal standards could affect workers to visit https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/rulemakingprocess#v-nav-tab2 and submit a written comment for review.