Biden’s plans to protect US workers from extreme heat faces resistance despite soaring temperatures

LACK OF FEDERAL HEAT STANDARDS

Addressing the situation in July, US President Joe Biden said that heat is “the number one weather-related killer” in the US.

He noted that 600 people die annually from its effects, which is more than the combined total from floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.

President Biden instructed the Department of Labor to increase federal inspections of workplaces where workers face heightened risk, such as farms and construction sites.

However, there remains a lack of federal heat standards, with proposals facing opposition in some Republican-led states.

Some states, like California, have mandated employers to provide water, shade, and breaks when temperatures surpass 35 degrees Celsius.