Scorching Heat and Desperate Workers: The Fight for Safety in South Carolina

The worker rally at Point Plaza in North Charleston on June 18Photo byBrightGram

In North Charleston, South Carolina, workers gathered on June 18 outside North Pointe Plaza to demand immediate action for safer workplaces amid record-breaking heat. This rally was part of a coordinated effort involving multiple Southern cities, including Atlanta, Georgia, and Durham, North Carolina, organized by the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW).

At the rally, workers voiced their struggles with extreme heat in their workplaces. Annalise Hoskin, a local worker, described their job environment as akin to entering an “oven.” She highlighted issues like short-staffing, broken equipment, and inadequate cooling, leading to unsafe and unbearable working conditions. Shae Parker, another USSW member, recounted how workers faced nausea, fainting, and vomiting due to the heat, emphasizing the dire need for proper heat management.

The workers' demands included:

- Effective air conditioning and cooling equipment

- Consistent and frequent breaks with free water

- Compensation for heat-related store closures

- Written health safety plans

- Training for heat-related emergencies

Service workers rally in Atlanta to protest extreme heat working conditionsPhoto byUnion of Southern Service Workers

These demands were echoed by Mari Robinson, a Family Dollar cashier in Durham, and Destiny Mervin, a Popeyes employee in Atlanta. Both highlighted severe health incidents and criticized their employers' negligence. Temperatures in South Carolina reached a heat index of 108 degrees, underscoring the urgency of their demands.

Amid these rallies, the Biden Administration proposed a groundbreaking rule to protect millions of U.S. workers from extreme heat. This rule, if implemented, would be the first major regulation of its kind and would require employers to provide rest breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimatization for new employees. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed two heat index thresholds: at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must provide drinking water and break areas, and at 90 degrees, workers must have 15-minute breaks every two hours and be monitored for heat illness.

This proposal aims to protect over 36 million workers, including those in agriculture, construction, warehouses, and restaurants, significantly reducing heat-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an average of 32 heat-related workplace deaths annually from 1992 to 2019, with 43 fatalities in 2022. Public Citizen reports up to 2,000 worker deaths annually from heat-related causes.

Currently, only five states—California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington—have workplace heat safety laws. Juley Fulcher of Public Citizen criticized the lack of national heat protection standards, leaving workers in 45 states unprotected. The proposal by OSHA represents a critical response to the growing threat of extreme heat to worker health and safety.

Joe Biden discussing the Climate Crisis in a Presidential AddressPhoto byNew York Times

However, the rule's future remains uncertain, especially with the upcoming election year. Implementation could be delayed or halted under a different administration. Despite this, the proposal's swift movement through administrative processes signals its high priority.

In South Carolina, the urgency of addressing extreme heat in workplaces is evident. Worker advocates like Shae Parker, who experienced severe conditions at Waffle House and now at a gas station, continue to push for better cooling systems, hydration access, heat safety plans, and mandatory training on heat-related illnesses. They emphasize that climate change is a workers' rights issue, and they will persist in their fight for safer work environments.

The rising heat in the Southern United States and the coordinated efforts of workers and legislative bodies highlight the critical need for comprehensive heat safety measures. As temperatures continue to soar, the fight for safe and humane working conditions becomes increasingly urgent, demanding immediate and effective action from employers and lawmakers alike.