Airport, retail, fast food and farm workers in 13 U.S. cities are rallying to demand federal heat protections following several heat-related deaths on the job.
Ayurella Horn-Muller reports for Grist.
In short:
- Workers in multiple industries are advocating for on-the-job heat protections, including water access and breaks, due to rising temperatures.
- Current federal regulations are still in the proposal stage, with implementation facing delays and political hurdles.
- Extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change, is increasingly lethal, with workers facing inadequate protections.
Key quote:
“Heat is a silent killer. It is the biggest weather-related killer in our community.”
— Texas' Democrat Representative Greg Casar.
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures are putting more workers at risk, especially those in outdoor or physically demanding jobs. Without stronger protections, heat-related deaths and illnesses are likely to increase.
Related: Op-ed: In a warming world, nurses heal people and the planet
