The Biden administration has proposed a new regulation aimed at protecting workers from heat-related illnesses and deaths, as the country experiences intense heat waves exacerbated by climate change.
The rule would affect approximately 35 million workers, including mail carriers, construction workers, and restaurant staff, who are exposed to high heat indexes.
According to a senior administration official, the purpose of the rule is to “significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses suffered by workers who are exposed to excessive heat… simply by doing their jobs.” Employers would be required to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans, appoint a workplace heat safety coordinator, and provide drinking water and access to break areas in the shade or air-conditioned spaces when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The rule would also require measures for employee acclimatization, including more frequent breaks and reduced workload, and monitoring for symptoms of heat-related illnesses. If finalized, this would be the first federal-level rule of its kind in the United States. However, the rule’s fate could be determined by the outcome of the November election, as a new administration could potentially scrap it.
