Protecting Workers for Extreme Heat

Protecting Workers for Extreme Heat

Haylie Shipp
Haylie Shipp
With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp.

The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled a proposed rule aiming to safeguard millions of workers from the dangers of extreme heat. This initiative, if enacted, would protect approximately 36 million workers across both indoor and outdoor settings, significantly cutting down on heat-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

Heat is the top cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. and poses severe risks like heat stroke, especially for workers in agriculture. Here in the Southeast, working in high heat is no rarity. Our farmhands and field workers, often spending long hours under the blazing sun, are particularly vulnerable. This proposed rule is a crucial step toward ensuring their safety.

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su emphasized the administration's commitment to worker safety, stating, "Every worker should come home safe and healthy at the end of the day." The rule mandates employers to create and enforce a heat injury and illness prevention plan. This includes providing drinking water, scheduled rest breaks, and measures to control indoor temperatures.

Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker highlighted the urgency of this issue, noting that workers nationwide are suffering from heat exposure. The proposal seeks public input to craft a final rule that balances protection for workers and feasibility for employers.

Comments on the rule can be submitted once published in the Federal Register. Meanwhile, OSHA continues its efforts to educate and enforce heat safety regulations, with a special focus on agricultural workers, including those under the H-2A visa program.

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