Biden Issues Hazard Alert to Protect Workers From Extreme Heat

According to a recent release from the White House, President Joe Biden asked the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) last week to issue a first-ever heat hazard alert. OSHA followed through on the request last Thursday.

Since 2011, more than 400 workers have died due to environmental heat exposure, and thousands more are hospitalized every year, the White House reports. According to the release, the heat hazard alert is an effort to ensure that workers will continue to have heat-related protections under federal law. As part of the alert, OSHA is providing information for employers on how to protect their workers and be aware of their rights, including protections against retaliation.

The release also noted that the Department of Labor plans to ramp up enforcement of heat-safety violations, increasing inspections in high-risk industries including construction, while its OSHA continues to develop a national standard for workplace heat-safety rules.

“As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration works toward proposing a rule to protect workers from heat illness, we are taking several measures today to better protect workers in extreme heat,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary for OSHA. “Employers have a duty to protect workers by reducing and eliminating hazards that expose workers to heat illness or injury.”

The announcement comes as much of North America, Europe, and Asia are experiencing some of the highest temperatures ever recorded, Fox News reports.

“Historically high temperatures impact everyone and put our nation’s workers at high risk,” said Julie Su, Acting Secretary of Labor. “A workplace heat standard has long been a top priority for the Department of Labor, but rulemaking takes time, and working people need help now.”

“This action, combined with OSHA’s increased heat-safety enforcement efforts, shows that we are determined to protect the safety and health of millions of people whose jobs become more hazardous in harsh weather,” Su continued.

For more information on what you can do to help keep your employees safe from heat-related illness, check out How to Prevent Workplace Heatstroke.