Biden administration to write workplace safety rule to tackle heat stress

“Rising temperatures pose an imminent threat to millions of American workers exposed to the elements, to children in schools without air conditioning, to the elderly in nursing homes without cooling resources, and especially to underprivileged communities. My administration will not let Americans face this threat alone, ”President Joe Biden said in a statement.

The context: The actions are part of the Biden administration’s interagency efforts to tackle the extreme heat, triggered in part by record heat and wildfires this summer that have resulted in hundreds of deaths and illnesses.

It is “virtually certain” that climate change, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels, has made heat waves hotter, more intense and longer, scientists say in a report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel. United on Climate Change This Summer.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 43 work-related deaths from environmental heat exposure in 2019, and at least 2,410 others suffered serious injuries and illnesses, but the Department of Labor says that heat-related illnesses are “largely preventable and generally underreported.” “

States like California, Washington, and Minnesota have heat standards in place to protect workers.

Details: While the rule-making process will take several months, the Biden administration has also committed to taking shorter-term action.

The White House said OSHA will extend the app to the workplace on days when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit by sending more people to investigate the complaints. It will also expand training for employers on how to prevent heat-related illnesses.

The administration will also develop a “national focus program” for thermal inspections that prioritizes registrations in industries such as construction and agriculture, where studies have shown outdoor workers to be at high risk. The same goes for people working in poorly ventilated warehouses, factories and meat packing facilities.

“Across the country, millions of workers face serious risks from high temperatures both outdoors and indoors,” Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said. “In a changing climate, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events increases the dangers workers face, especially for workers of color who disproportionately hold essential jobs under harsh conditions.”