‘Your body fights to stay cool’: workers toil in record heat as federal rule frozen
Trump officials and Republicans are rolling back protections against heat-related illnesses and deaths
TL;DR
- Workers are facing extreme heat conditions, with this summer being the hottest on record in the US.
- The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are working to roll back federal regulations designed to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries.
- Federal heat safety regulations, including requirements for water, shade, and breaks, have been frozen.
- Big business groups and lobbyists oppose heat protection standards, claiming employers already comply and that the rules would be a burden.
- Only seven states currently have enforceable heat prevention standards for workers.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates over 550 US workers die and nearly 28,000 are injured annually from heat exposure.
- New York City has issued heat protections for its workers following the federal pullback.