The Biden administration proposed sweeping workplace safety rules on Tuesday aimed at reducing dangerous exposure to extreme heat for tens of millions of workers. The regulations would require employers to routinely monitor workplace conditions and implement measures to keep workers safe from extreme heat, including providing rest breaks and water.
These rules would apply throughout the country, either directly in the states where federal regulators enforce labor laws or by requiring the 22 states and territories with enforcement structures approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop equivalent standards. OSHA expects that the protections would cover 36 million workers.
The proposal was unveiled back in July, and it is not expected to be completed until well after the election — opening it up to being scuttled by a second Trump administration.
OSHA’s proposed heat safety standard is now up for public comment, according to the Labor Department. Submissions will be accepted until Dec. 30, 2024. Submit your comments here.