A growing number of cities, states, and federal agencies are working to protect outdoor workers as extreme heat becomes a more frequent and dangerous fixture of American summers.
Goodluck Ajeh reports for The Christian Science Monitor.
In short:
- Federal officials have proposed a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule that would require employers to provide water, shade, and regular breaks when temperatures hit 80°F or higher; the rule would apply to over 36 million U.S. workers.
- Massachusetts, like most states, currently lacks enforceable heat-safety standards; city officials in Boston are drafting local ordinances and calling for stronger state-level protections.
- Some businesses are adapting independently, rotating staff, limiting outdoor activity, and testing wearable tech to monitor body temperature and manage heat exposure in real time.
Key quote:
“Ultimately, we want to protect every single individual from their body temperature exceeding dangerous temperatures.”
— Madeleine Scammell, environmental health professor, Boston University School of Public Health
Why this matters:
Extreme heat is now one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, and climate change is driving more frequent and intense heat waves across the country. Outdoor workers — including those in construction, agriculture, delivery, and hospitality — are especially vulnerable, often laboring in direct sun or hot environments without adequate breaks or hydration. Many lack legal protections, especially in states that defer to federal guidelines that haven’t kept pace with rising temperatures. The lack of uniform standards leaves millions at risk of heat stroke, dehydration, and other serious health issues.
Related: OSHA heat rule advances despite Trump-era deregulation push
