The move comes after members of Congress wrote to OSHA with concerns about protecting workers from heat exposure.
President Joe Biden has requested that the Department of Labor issue a Hazard Alert for heat. The department will be increasing the enforcement of extreme heat protections for workers.
The administration made the announcement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) received a letter from 112 members of Congress that urged the agency to establish formal heat safety regulations for indoor and outdoor workplaces. The legislators raised concerns about adequate access to water, sheltered rest breaks, and medical training for heat-specific illnesses that could prevent heat strokes and death.
“These heat waves are dangerous, they are life-threatening, and – with the devastating effects of climate change – they are only getting worse,” stated Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the legislators who signed the letter.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also be investing in improvements to weather forecasts to allow communities to better prepare for heat waves.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the president and members of his administration as they seek to protect workers from the dangers of heat exposure.
- For Assistant Secretary Doug Parker as he heads the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- For U.S. employers and workers to be aware of the heat and take appropriate measures to ensure health and well-being.
Sources: Reuters, NBC News, The White House
