Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat Stroke and Exposure to Just Do Your Job: A Public Commentary on OSHA This is a First Step”

The assistant secretary for the OSHA said in a statement that something must be done to protect workers from heat stroke and heat exposure from just doing their jobs.

“Today’s proposal is an important next step in the process to receive public input to craft a ‘win-win’ final rule that protects workers while being practical and workable for employers,” Parker said.

In the United States, heat was the main cause of weather-related deaths last year. The department stated that new regulations could provide protection for some 36 million workers who are more likely to work in roles that could expose them to extreme heat.

When the heat index hits 90 degrees, there are additional protections that kick in. At that point, employers would also have to provide a minimum 15-minute paid rest break every two hours. They would need to have a system for monitoring workers for heat related illness or symptoms.

The road to approval could prove easier should President Biden secure a second term in office, but former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for office, has indicated his intention to minimize federal oversight on private industries and could block the rule’s implementation.