The Biden administration's effort to establish heat protection rules for workers faces uncertainty as Donald Trump prepares to take office, potentially freezing the initiative.
Matt Sledge reports for The Intercept.
In short:
- OSHA drafted heat protection rules after years of rising worker deaths linked to extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change.
- The rule requires employers in high-risk sectors to provide water, shade, and rest for workers during extreme heat conditions.
- The Trump administration is expected to halt progress on the rule, continuing a trend of diminished worker safety measures under Republican leadership.
Key quote:
“Big business and corporate interests and billionaires have really pushed back on OSHA trying to protect workers and workplaces. We need to be very concerned about what that means for the state of this agency and for its ability to protect workers from dangerous working conditions.”
— Rebecca Reindel, director of occupational safety and health for the labor federation AFL-CIO
Why this matters:
Extreme heat has become a major workplace hazard, killing dozens to thousands of workers annually. The rollback of federal safety measures would leave millions unprotected and shifts responsibility to individual states, deepening disparities in worker protections.
