President Biden proposed new rules Tuesday to protect workers from extreme heat as millions of workers toil in one of the hottest summers on record.
If finalized, the measure would protect roughly 35 million workers from illnesses and injuries relating to on-the-job heat exposure. If finalized, the rule will impact farmworkers, construction workers, delivery workers, landscapers and those who work indoors at warehouses, factories and kitchens.
“Extreme heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the United States. More people die from extreme heat than floods, hurricanes, and floods combined,” Mr. Biden said after a briefing on this summer’s extreme heat.
The president blamed the extreme heat on climate change, saying that ignoring the warning signs is “deadly, dangerous and irresponsible.”
“Anyone who denies the impact of climate change is just condemning the American people to a dangerous future is either really, really dumb or has some other motive,” he said.
Under the proposal, employers would be required to identify heat dangers, develop emergency response plans related to heat illness, and provide training to employees and supervisors to spot the signs of heat injuries. It would also require employers to provide rest breaks, provide shade and water and ease new workers into hot jobs to help their bodies adjust.
The plan calls for rest breaks and shade to be provided once combined heat and humidity levels reach 80 degrees. When combined heat and humidity reach 90 degrees, all employees must receive 15-minute paid rest breaks after two hours and supervisors will be required to check on employees working alone.
Under the plan, penalties for heat-related violations in workplaces would increase significantly and would be on the same level as fines issued for workplace violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
However, the regulations won’t be finalized until at least 2026, which could imperil the plan if Mr. Biden is not reelected.
An estimated 2,300 people in the U.S. died from heat-related illness last year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heat strokes, dehydration and heat-related heart stress are among the illnesses stemming from working in the heat.
The Labor Department and Office and OSHA for years have called for increased rules to protect workers from extreme heat. Just five states have heat protection for workers, but they largely cover outdoor laborers.
A surge of extreme heat has overtaken much of the nation, with over 60 million people living under heat alerts this week. The excessive heat warnings cover much of California, Oklahoma and the Gulf Coast.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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