Labor Department proposes new rule to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat

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When temperatures approach 100 degrees, it’s a tough day for crews who work outside under the blazing hot sun. Construction workers have their water and ice coolers to stay safe, but more protection could be coming their way. "When it's super hot like this, it's really hard to do concrete work," construction worker Ralph Hall told News 12. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Labor proposed a new rule this month to protect 36 million workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat. MORE: New Jersey's forecast The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports every year that dozens of workers die and thousands more suffer illnesses related to hazardous heat exposure. The agency says that is preventable. The proposed rule would require employers to implement requirements for drinking water and rest breaks. Training would be required for workers to identify heat-related symptoms. It would also require a plan to protect workers that are not used to working in high heat conditions. Construction workers around the state this week will be in triple digit heat and humidity. Under the sun, the temperature of concrete or paved surfaces could reach around 150 degrees or more. Hall is working on the pavement in Lakewood. "Well, obviously with concrete, everybody knows it sets up a lot quicker in the heat. So, you have to put a lot of additives in it. Unfortunately, it is what it is," he said. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 500 workers in the U.S. died from heat exposure from 2011 to 2022. That's an average of 40 deaths per year. "We are trying to start a little earlier today, finish a little earlier. We have plenty of water for the guys, and you need to stay hydrated – that's No. 1 key," Hall said. "That's it, got to do what you got to do. The world doesn't stop." "