Biden administration proposes new actions to address extreme heat, including worker protections

The Biden administration is announcing new steps to combat extreme heat on Tuesday – including introducing the first federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace, and allocating nearly $1 billion to help communities protect against natural disasters.

The Department of Labor ’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing a rule that would enact workplace requirements aiming to protect workers from extreme heat – including requirements for identifying heat hazards, developing heat illness and emergency response plans, providing training to employees and supervisors, and implementing work practice standards such as rest breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimation for new employees.

If finalized, the rule would affect approximately 36 million workers and reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace, according to OSHA. The rule doesn’t cover employees working indoors in air-conditioned environments consistently below a heat index of 80 degrees or workers who are only temporarily outside. It also doesn’t cover emergency responders or teleworkers.

However, certain states have blocked cities and employers from implementing worker protections in extreme heat. Texas and Florida, for example, have signed such bans. However, if a federal rule is finalized, it would overrule states under federal jurisdiction, including Texas and Florida, and penalize employers that do not meet the criteria.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also announcing an allocation of nearly $1 billion for more than 650 projects nationwide to help communities protect against disasters and natural hazards. Funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law will be allocated to these climate resiliency projects.

The Environmental Protection Agency also plans to release a new report outlining how climate change affects people’s health. Later this summer, the Biden administration will hold a White House Summit on Extreme Heat, bringing together state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders.