Mandating Work Safety in High Heat
With California Ag Today, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.
The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled a proposed rule aiming to safeguard millions of workers from the dangers of extreme heat. According to the administration, this initiative, if enacted, would protect approximately 36 million workers across both indoor and outdoor settings.
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 California, working in high heat is no rarity. Our farmhands and field workers, often spending long hours under the blazing sun, are particularly vulnerable.
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 and scheduled rest breaks.
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 program.
