A recent investigation by NPR and Columbia Journalism Investigations found that climate change is contributing to a dramatic rise in preventable worker deaths from high temperatures, an issue that disproportionately affects workers of color. To address this, the current administration issued a joint statement with OSHA with a commitment to “protect workers, children, seniors, and at-risk communities from extreme heat.”
It is unusual for presidents to weigh in on OSHA standards, indicating a strong commitment to fast-tracking these worker protections. The move was met with approval from lawmakers who previously introduced legislation to create a heat standard for workers.
Improved heat protections will be lifesaving for workers in farming, construction, landscaping, trash collection, and more. The three-year average of worker heat deaths has doubled since the early 1990s with 384 workers dying from environmental heat exposure in the US over the last decade.
The post OSHA moves to increase extreme heat protection for workers first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.
A recent investigation by NPR and Columbia Journalism Investigations found that climate change is contributing to a dramatic rise in preventable worker deaths from high temperatures, an issue that disproportionately affects workers of color. To address this, the current administration issued a joint statement with OSHA with a commitment to “protect workers, children, seniors, and
The post OSHA moves to increase extreme heat protection for workers first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.