President Joe Biden instructed the Labor Department on Thursday to issue an alert for extreme heat and enhance workplace safety enforcement as much of the country experiences scorching temperatures.
The current heatwave poses dangerous conditions for millions of workers who work outdoors or in hot facilities like warehouses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that on average, dozens of U.S. workers die each year due to heat exposure, and safety advocates are concerned that these numbers will rise as climate change leads to longer and more intense heat waves.
The Biden administration plans to call on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a part of the Labor Department, to increase safety inspections in high-risk industries, including construction and agriculture, in the coming weeks. The White House stated that its hazard alert will “reaffirm that workers have heat-related protections under federal law.”
“There is no specific rule under OSHA mandating what companies must do to protect their employees in extreme heat.”
Although OSHA can penalize employers for exposing workers to dangerous levels of heat, there isn’t a specific rule requiring companies to implement measures to protect their employees, such as providing reasonable rest breaks and adequate shade. Many workplace safety and environmental groups, along with a former OSHA leader, have been urging the Biden administration to establish clear and enforceable rules as soon as possible.
The White House announced on Thursday that OSHA will “continue to develop a national standard for workplace heat-safety rules.”
Over 100 Congressional Democrats sent a letter to President Biden on Monday urging the administration to prioritize an OSHA rule for both indoor and outdoor work. They believe the rule should include requirements for water and rest breaks, as well as training to identify heat-related illnesses.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who signed the letter, stated that “These heat waves are dangerous, they are life-threatening, and — with the devastating effects of climate change — they are only getting worse.”
Parts of the Southwest have experienced record-setting heat for weeks, with Phoenix enduring a streak of days where temperatures exceeded 110 degrees. In the span of just one week from July 16 to July 22, Maricopa County recorded at least seven heat-related deaths. Doctors in the area have even treated individuals with third-degree burns from touching hot pavement.