Extreme heat kills at least 1,220 people in the U.S. annually. Workers are among that number: 986 died from heat exposure between 1992 and 2022 — an average of 34 deaths each year.
Many of those who have died were construction workers, with 334 dying during that same period.
Between 2011 and 2020, there were around 34,000 work-related heat injuries that resulted in people missing work.
The rule’s protections could apply to 36 million workers. That includes people who making deliveries, carrying mail, doing construction, picking vegetables, fixing power lines and landscaping.
The rule would also require employers to assess threats and take protective measures. Impacted companies would need to create a plan to keep workers safe and monitor for high heat conditions.
In times of high heat, employers would need to provide workers with access to water, a break area with cooler temperatures and time to take breaks.
The rule’s completion could depend on the November election. The rule may not be finalized by the end of Biden’s first (and possibly only) term. It’s unlikely that the Trump administration would complete it.
Extreme heat is expected to worsen with climate change.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
