Editor’s Note: This article was updated July 27 since its original posting on July 7.
Record-breaking temperatures are hitting triple digits in some places across the U.S., and the heat wave is expected to expand into central and southeastern parts of the country while continuing to put workers at risk.
President Biden today is asking the Department of Labor (DOL) to issue the first-ever hazard alert for heat, affirming that workers have heat-related protections under federal law. The DOL will provide information on what employers can and should do to protect workers, and ramp up enforcement of heat-safety violations, particularly in construction and agriculture. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration continues work to develop a national standard for workplace heat-safety rules.
The blistering heat could continue into August in the Desert Southwest, Texas and South Florida, ABC News reported.
On July 26, Phoenix sweltered under its 27th consecutive day of record-breaking heat with temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, according to AZFamily First Alert Weather.
In Texas, 13 deaths and hundreds of injuries and emergency room admissions have been attributed to the scorching heat wave baking the state, The Hill reported, noting that “several state attorneys general called on the federal government in February to create national standards to protect workers from deadly heat.”
The heat wave is being blamed for at least 18 deaths in the Phoenix metro area; other deaths suspected to be heat-related are under investigation, USA Today reported.
Heat mitigation has been a bargaining issue for UPS drivers who threatened to strike; union leaders and UPS announced a tentative deal to equip the trucks with air conditioning, heat shields and additional fans.
SHRM Online has collected the following articles on this topic.
This Week Will Be the Summer’s Hottest so Far Over the Lower 48
The heat over the coming week won’t be as intense as it was in the Southwest last week, but it will cover a lot more territory. In other words, on balance, this will be the hottest week of the year so far for the Lower 48.
The heat is forecast to be most pervasive July 26 and July 27 when more than 250 million people in the United States will experience heat indexes—a measure of how hot it feels, factoring in humidity—over 90 degrees.
Southwest Heat Wave Simmering Since Spring Will Expand to Cover Much of U.S.
The heat wave simmering in parts of the Southwest since spring is expected to expand into the central and eastern parts of the country for the last week of July, forecasters said Sunday.
Federal forecasters have issued excessive heat warnings and heat advisories for a wide swath of the U.S., including parts of California, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, the Dakotas, the Desert Southwest and Texas, as well as the southern tip of Florida.
(Aol.com)
‘It Comes Up on You Fast:’ Scorching Heat Is Crushing American Businesses
As Phoenix and a large chunk of the United States bake under a record heat wave, the massive swath of extreme heat is not only taking a toll on millions of Americans, it’s also driving up costs for businesses and putting pressure on the economy.
While the true economic impact has yet to be tabulated for this weather event—the nature of excessive heat, its varying effects and sizable reach make that a tall order—recent studies have shown that extreme heat could cost the United States $100 billion annually from the productivity loss alone. If left unchecked, it could sap away one-sixth of global economic activity by the year 2100.
(CNN.com)
Tracking Dangerous Heat in the U.S.
The heat index is a measure of how hot it really feels outside, taking into account humidity along with temperature. The measurement is used to indicate when the level of heat is dangerous for the human body while in the shade. When out in the sun, a person could perceive that temperature as being higher by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Limited Regs Make Texas Workers Responsible for Preventing On-the-Job Heat Injuries
There are no federal or state standards that specifically protect workers from heat illness, and Texas cities and counties will soon be barred from making local rules with that purpose. Now more than ever, heat safety depends on workers being trained in self-care, supervisors learning to identify symptoms of heat stress and employers’ willingness to provide breaks and other protective measures.
Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers
The heat index is a single value that takes both temperature and humidity into account. It is a better measure than air temperature alone for estimating the risk to workers from environmental heat sources.
This guide helps employers and worksite supervisors prepare and implement hot weather plans. It explains how to use the heat index to determine when extra precautions are needed at a worksite to protect workers from environmental contributions to heat-related illness. Workers performing strenuous activity, workers using heavy or nonbreathable protective clothing, and workers who are new to an outdoor job need additional precautions beyond those warranted by heat index alone.
(National Association of Letter Carriers)
Forcing People to Work in Deadly Heat Is Mostly Legal in the US
As the planet records some of its highest average temperatures, workers have few legal protections from extreme heat.
Overview: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments
Millions of U.S. workers are exposed to heat in their workplaces. Although illness from exposure to heat is preventable, every year, thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure—and some cases are fatal. Hazardous heat exposure can occur indoors or outdoors, and can occur during any season if the conditions are right, not only during heat waves.
(OSHA)
Beating the Heat at Work
Employers have a duty to make sure workers avoid heat illnesses. Outdoor workers need water, rest and shade to make it to the end of their workday safely. Indoor workers, such as those in warehouses, boiler rooms, kitchens and laundries, can be affected by heat stress, too.