The Biden administration took steps on Tuesday to protect workers and local communities from the deadly effects of rising temperatures, including a proposal by the Department of Labor for the first law specifically addressing this issue. On June 20, nearly 100 million Americans received warnings about extreme heat waves, prompting New York City to open emergency cooling centers, while New Mexico experienced wildfires that resulted in two fatalities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor is proposing a law to protect workers, which, when finalized, will be the first safety standard of its kind in the United States. The law includes requirements to identify heat hazards, emergency response plans, supervisor training, and work standards, including breaks, availability of shade and water, and acclimatization of new employees to high temperatures.
Groups including farmworkers have urged the U.S. administration to establish standards for working in extreme heat, as these workers often face high temperatures without adequate access to shade, water, and breaks. OSHA estimates that this law will impact nearly 36 million workers and significantly reduce injuries, illnesses, and fatalities related to extreme heat in the workplace.
