“It couldn’t have been more necessary”

To beat the heat and protect workers, the Biden administration has unveiled groundbreaking legislation to protect Americans from the growing risks of extreme temperatures.

President Joe Biden, speaking at the District of Columbia Emergency Operations Center in July, highlighted the deadly and costly impacts of rising global temperatures and called for urgent action, The New York Times reported.

The proposed regulation, developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requires employers to monitor workers and provide rest areas and water when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Employers would also have to implement heat safety plans to protect the estimated 35 million Americans who work both indoors and outdoors, according to the news agency.

Biden highlighted the deadly effects of extreme heat, which causes more deaths in the U.S. each year than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined. According to the Times, heat-related deaths could reach 2,300 in 2023 alone. He also stressed the responsibility to protect citizens from the effects of a changing climate.

The new rules aim to provide important protections by identifying two heat triggers. At a heat index of 80 degrees, employers must provide drinking water, cooling facilities and rest breaks. At 90 degrees, they must provide 15-minute rest breaks every two hours and monitor workers for symptoms of heat illness. Failure to meet those standards can result in fines of more than $16,000, according to the Times.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to address rising global temperatures and their impacts. About $1 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure legislation will also be allocated to help communities become more resilient to weather-related disasters. It complements other climate policies, such as those in the Inflation Reduction Act, that support the adoption of clean energy technologies and home retrofits.

Although industry groups oppose it, the proposal has won praise from environmental groups and labor unions, according to the Times. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, said in an interview that the protection “could not be more needed,” while Aru Shiney-Ajay of the Sunrise Movement celebrated it as a significant victory for climate action.

With heatwaves becoming more frequent and severe, this regulation is a key step towards protecting workers and mitigating the economic impact of changing climate conditions.

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