White House unveils excessive-heat protection proposal for U.S. workers
July 2 (UPI) -- The White House on Tuesday proposed new rules to protect workers toiling in extreme weather conditions as new and related infrastructure investments were unveiled.
If finalized, the new proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule would create the first-ever federal safety standards for employees exposed to excessive heat conditions, the federal government claiming it would impact 36 million workers and "substantially reduce" heat injuries, illnesses and workplace deaths.
The White House says the new rule would place requirements such as mandated rest breaks at certain temperatures, access to shade and water and heat acclimation for new employees, developing plans for heat illnesses, emergency response plans, and training for supervisors.
It was also announced that $1 billion in grants would be given for over 650 climate resilience projects across the United States. Washington, the nation's capital, will get more than $3.5 billion for infrastructure upgrading, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser.
President Joe Biden has taken a number of steps over the last few years to protect workers and communities amid continuously record-breaking heat which has gripped the United States.
On Tuesday, the president was critical of Republicans who, he said, "deny that climate change even exists" as he pointed out how no Congressional Republican voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, expected to pour billions of dollars in clean energy investments to the states. Biden claims the GOP is now trying to repeal its environmental provisions
"I, quite frankly, think it's not only outrageous, it's really stupid," he said. "When disaster strikes, there are no red states or blue states."
While the new rule, though, will take about a year to implement, there is no guarantee that it will move forward if a new president walks into the White House as a result of November's election.
Excessive heat was blamed for 436 worker deaths from 2011 through 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.
It arrives as three Mexican migrants were recently found dead in Arizona from extreme heat exposure. That was followed in April when a Florida company was cited over a migrant worker's heat death amid a state ban -- which this new rule would override -- on heat illness prevention signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Biden administration also announced $1 billion in grants to expand tree and green spaces in urban areas and $7 billion to expand the wildland firefighting workforce along with new technology to help battle wildfire.
"The administration also launched a new Community Wildfire Defense Grant program that helps local communities develop and implement wildfire preparedness and protection in communities across the West," the White House said.
