The Biden administration earlier this week proposed the nation’s first federal standards to protect workers from the heat as temperatures reach record levels due to climate change.
The rule is not yet final and is still subject to public comment and consideration, but it has the potential to help tens of millions of workers across the United States.
Here are five things to know about the proposed rule and the risks it could mitigate.
Heat takes a deadly toll on workers
Extreme heat 1,220 deaths There are several workers in the United States every year. 986 people died from heatstroke Between 1992 and 2022, that will be an average of 34 deaths per year.
During this period, the lowest number of worker fatalities was recorded in 1992, when 11 workers died from heatstroke, while the highest number was recorded in 2011, when 61 workers died in the workplace.
Many of those who died were construction workers, with 334 deaths in the same period.
More people are suffering heatstroke Extreme heatwaves continue to occur every year. According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control, about 120,000 people were hospitalized last year due to extreme heat.
Between 2011 and 2020, 34,000 cases of work-related heat stroke As a result, people were forced to take time off work.
When exposed to extreme heat, Various health problems Heat stroke can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness and even death, while heat exhaustion can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea, and heat exposure can also cause convulsions, rashes and fainting.
“Workers across the country are passing out, suffering heat stroke or dying from heat exposure just doing their jobs, and something needs to be done to protect them,” said Douglas Parker, head of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The rule’s protections could apply to 36 million workers.
The Biden administration estimates that the rule could apply to 36 million workers, and it would extend protections to workers who have to work in hot environments.
This includes people who make deliveries, carry mail, work in construction, pick vegetables, repair power lines and do landscaping work.
This applies to both indoor and outdoor workers who work in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The rule would require employers to assess threats and implement protective measures.
The rule requires businesses with employees who are vulnerable to extreme heat to take initial steps, such as creating a plan to keep employees safe and hiring a heat safety coordinator.
You may also need to monitor high temperatures in your workplace.
During hot weather, employers should provide employees with water, places to rest, and time for breaks, take steps to help new employees acclimate to the heat, and communicate regularly with employees.
Rest areas for people who work outdoors will be shaded or air-conditioned spaces, while rest areas for people who work indoors will be cooler areas with fans, ventilators and/or air conditioning.
Acclimatization plans include allowing new employees to either start with a light workload or take frequent, supervised breaks.
Finalization of the rules will likely depend on who wins the November election.
The Biden administration has proposed the rule, but it’s unclear whether it will actually be completed.
The federal regulatory process can be lengthy, and with only about seven months remaining in President Biden’s first term, it would be difficult to finalize it in that time.
The issue of worker heating standards is a relatively partisan one, and it’s not clear whether the Trump administration will address it.
Republican leaders in at least two states, Florida and Texas, have passed laws banning local governments from setting their own worker heating standards.
Critics of the measures say they would be too costly for industry: OSHA estimates that complying with the proposed rules would cost employers an average of $7.8 billion per year over 10 years, or $3,085.47 per establishment.
Climate change is expected to make extreme heat even worse
As the planet warms due to climate change, extreme heat is expected to get worse.
Scientists warn that heatwaves will become more frequent and intense as the planet warms, leading to increased heatstroke deaths around the world unless steps are taken to mitigate climate change. Potential to increase by 370 percentAccording to a study published last year.
