Extreme heat health risks are increasing as climate change drives more frequent, prolonged, and intense heat waves. A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) highlights the workers most vulnerable to extreme heat and recommends policy measures, including a federal heat standard, to protect their health, safety, and productivity.
The report identifies that those most exposed to extreme heat are often low-wage earners, people of color, and immigrants who have limited resources to avoid hazardous job conditions. The report suggests five actions for policymakers at federal, state, and local levels to mitigate climate change effects and protect workers:
1. Accelerate efforts to adopt a federal heat standard.
2. Raise awareness among employers about voluntary protective actions.
3. Increase resilience in workplaces and communities.
4. Prioritize at-risk communities in responses to extreme heat.
5. Transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy.
"OSHA must speed up its rulemaking to establish a federal heat standard to protect workers from economic and health damages caused by extreme heat," said Jill Rosenthal, director of Public Health at CAP and co-author of the report. "State governments should also enact and enforce standards requiring employers to implement effective heat prevention plans."
Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, senior policy analyst for Immigration at CAP and co-author of the report added, "With summer approaching and temperatures rising, policymakers cannot afford delays in protecting workers from extreme heat dangers. Employers must meet their obligation by implementing strategies voluntarily while awaiting federal standards."
For more information or expert consultation, contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].
