The Biden administration says it will propose new rules Heat protection measures were approved today to protect workers from the deadliest weather hazard facing Americans: extreme heat. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to publish its new heat protections in the federal register today, Biden administration officials said at a press conference yesterday.
The standards are intended to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths at work. Heat is already Kills many more people in the United States than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes or any other weather-related disaster. Global warming is just making the problem worsewhich will lead to longer, more frequent and more intense heat waves. The proposed rules are intended to enable workplace protections to catch up with that reality.
Heat already kills far more people in the United States than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes or any other weather-related disaster.
Under the new rules, employers would have to develop plans to prevent heat-related injuries and illnesses. That includes designating a heat safety coordinator and having procedures in place to respond to heat-related injuries and illnesses. symptoms heat-related illnesses such as muscle cramps, nausea, and fainting.
They would also have to monitor workplaces for potentially dangerous conditions. A heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which takes into account both heat and humidity, would trigger a number of requirements to keep workers safe. Employees working in that heat would need access to drinking water and a break area where they can cool off, for example. A heat index of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher would trigger more requirements, including 15-minute paid breaks every two hours on the job. Breaks can help people acclimate to the heat, according to Biden administration officials on the call.
The rule is expected to cover about 35 million workers who are routinely exposed to heat risk, including people who work in construction, agriculture and other outdoor jobs. It does not cover teleworkers or people who work indoors with air conditioning that consistently keeps temperatures below the heat index thresholds set in the rules. It also does not include state and local public employees who are not covered by OSHA or certain emergency services.
The proposal has been in the works for a few years now: The Biden administration announced it would begin the rulemaking process in September 2021. “While we’ve all seen the graphic and harrowing images of superstorms, wildfires, and floods in recent weeks, another climate disaster is lurking just below the radar: extreme heat,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. statement At the time.
