workplace
Newsletter
Credit: alejandroavilacortez/Pixabay
Increasing workplace deaths from extreme heat prompt new regulations
As extreme heat leads to increasing workplace fatalities, the Biden administration is pushing for new safety regulations, though facing substantial opposition.
Coral Davenport and Noah Weiland report for The New York Times.
In short:
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is preparing to propose a new rule to protect workers from extreme heat, covering around 50 million people.
- Last year recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths in the U.S., with 2,300 fatalities, and emergency room visits for heat illnesses surged.
- Business groups are resisting the proposed regulations, citing the complexity and costs of implementation.
Key quote:
"The threat to people from extreme heat is reaching a point where we have to rethink how, at all levels of government, we are preparing and putting in place a response that matches the severity of the problem."
— Dr. John M. Balbus, deputy assistant secretary for climate change and health equity in the Health and Human Services Department
Why this matters:
The sweltering summer heat is not just an inconvenience; it's becoming a deadly force in American workplaces. Recent data points to a disturbing rise in heat-related fatalities among workers, particularly those in outdoor industries like construction and agriculture. However, the push for new safety protocols is encountering significant resistance from various quarters. Some industry groups argue that the regulations would impose undue financial burdens on businesses, particularly small enterprises already grappling with post-pandemic economic recovery.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Caro Rotter/Pixabay
Florida's new bill challenges local heat safety regulations
In a controversial move, Florida legislators have passed a bill to prohibit local heat protection ordinances, sparking intense public debate.
In short:
- The bill, supported by major business interests, aims to ban local governments from enacting heat-protection laws.
- Emotional testimonies highlighted the personal impact of inadequate workplace heat safety, including fatalities.
- The legislation also seeks to eliminate local living wage ordinances, affecting workers' pay standards.
Key quote:
"To me this bill is not about numbers, it’s about millions of Floridians and it is very personal."
— Laura Munoz, Florida Student Power
Why this matters:
This legislation touches on the intersection of workplace safety, public health, and local governance, raising concerns about the balance between business interests and the well-being of workers. Knowing how many people die or get sick from heat-related causes is essential for the policy arguments to equitably adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Keep reading...Show less
Photo by Alex Kotliarskyi on Unsplash
UK workers ‘should get day off’ if workplace is hotter than 30C
A maximum indoor temperature working law giving people a day off if workplace temperatures surpass 30C should be mandated by government, a new report recommends.
Pixabay
Workers exposed to extreme heat have few protections
Tens of millions of Americans are struggling to cope with soaring temperatures. OSHA is developing new workplace safety standards, but they are not yet complete.
Conservatives attack companies for being too 'woke' on climate
Conservatives in the U.S. have targeted firms for their environmental policies, but many companies are standing their ground.
www.nytimes.com
Work injuries tied to heat are vastly undercounted, study finds
New data underline how heat waves can hurt people, especially the poorest workers, in unexpected ways.
www.nytimes.com
How a ruling on gay and transgender rights may help the climate
What does that have to do with climate change? Potentially a lot.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
