The Biden administration proposed a new regulation on Tuesday (July 2) to address the issue of excessive heat in the workplace, as millions of Americans are currently under heat alerts due to scorching weather. According to the Associated Press, if finalized, the measure will protect about 36 million American workers from suffering harm due to exposure to high temperatures at work. This would also be the first major federal safety standard in the United States addressing such issues. Those affected by workplace heat include farmworkers, delivery and construction workers, gardeners, as well as indoor workers in warehouses, factories, and kitchens.
President Biden plans to emphasize this regulation on Tuesday, where he will receive briefings on extreme weather and deliver a speech. Despite increasing awareness of the health risks posed by high temperatures, measures to protect against extreme heat have lagged behind for those regularly exposed to temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).
Under the proposed new regulation, employers must identify heat hazards, develop emergency plans related to illnesses caused by heat, provide training to employees and supervisors on signs and symptoms of such illnesses, arrange break times for new employees, provide sun protection and water, and train on tolerance to higher temperatures.
A senior White House official stated that the government will significantly increase penalties for violations related to heat in the workplace, aligning these workplaces with the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor.
It is estimated that 2,300 people died in the United States in 2023 from heat-related illnesses. Workers exposed to extreme high temperatures for long periods are most vulnerable to health risks such as heatstroke and other diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States.
As the hottest months of the year approach, millions of Americans face greater risks of heatstroke, dangerous dehydration, and heat-related heart stress. Since 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor has been developing standards on how workplaces should handle high temperatures, with OSHA holding meetings last year to assess the impact of certain proposed measures on small businesses.
Heat protection laws in the United States have faced opposition from industries, including chambers of commerce and other business associations. Many opponents argue that implementing comprehensive mandatory measures across such a wide range of industries is challenging.
States such as California, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington are among the few in the United States that have established standards for workplace heat exposure regulations.