As Earth’s hottest month on record wraps up, heat safety takes center stage in the US

Too hot to handle… We’ve made it to the end of what scientists say is Earth’s hottest month ever recorded (July temps may be the highest in 120K years). Over 250M people in the US faced heat indexes of at least 90F last week, putting outdoor workers at risk. 436 US workers died from heat exposure between 2011 and 2021, and fatalities are expected to rise. Last week, President Biden announced actions that the Labor Dept. will take to protect workers:

• Checking the thermostat: Heat-safety inspections in high-risk sectors like construction and agriculture will increase. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has already carried out 2.6K check-ins.

• Cooling off: A first-ever heat hazard alert will tell employers what steps they can take to protect workers, and remind employees of their rights.

H2O break not included… There are many federal workplace safety rules around harmful substance exposure, but there are none specifically for heat exposure. Biden directed OSHA to develop heat standards nearly two years ago, but the process for new rules is seriously slow (locking in a limit on silica exposure took 19 years). New workplace standards often face fierce opposition from companies that lose money for every paid break. OSHA’s working on a federal heat standard that’s due for a business impact review next month. Meanwhile: 

• Only six states guarantee workers the right to water, rest, and shade (in CA, heat rules kick in when temps hit 80F). Last month, a TX law removed mandated water breaks for outdoor workers, while a heat protection bill failed in NY.