Airport, retail and farm workers demand heat protections after deaths

Airport, retail, fast food and farm workers in 13 U.S. cities are rallying to demand federal heat protections following several heat-related deaths on the job.

Ayurella Horn-Muller reports for Grist.


In short:

  • Workers in multiple industries are advocating for on-the-job heat protections, including water access and breaks, due to rising temperatures.
  • Current federal regulations are still in the proposal stage, with implementation facing delays and political hurdles.
  • Extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change, is increasingly lethal, with workers facing inadequate protections.

Key quote:

“Heat is a silent killer. It is the biggest weather-related killer in our community.”

— Texas' Democrat Representative Greg Casar.

Why this matters:

Rising temperatures are putting more workers at risk, especially those in outdoor or physically demanding jobs. Without stronger protections, heat-related deaths and illnesses are likely to increase.

Related: Op-ed: In a warming world, nurses heal people and the planet

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