Rep. Castor Urges OSHA To Speed Federal Heat Protections For Outdoor Workers

"Two months after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation preventing local governments from requiring heat protections for outdoors workers, Tampa Bay-area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is calling on the Biden administration to finalize federal workplace protections against heat-related injury and illness.

The Florida law (HB 433), set to go into effect on July 1, will allow private companies to avoid any mandate to provide basic protections like shade, accessible water, and breaks from the excessive heat and humidity that takes place daily in Florida throughout the summer months.

It was introduced months after Miami-Dade County activists worked with local leaders in crafting an ordinance that would have provided heat protections for outdoors workers in construction and agriculture, after at least two farm workers died from excessive heat in South Florida last year."

Mitch Perry reports for States Newsroom June 17, 2024.

SEE ALSO:

"Dozens of Groups Push FEMA to Recognize Extreme Heat as a ‘Major Disaster’" (New York Times)

Source: States Newsroom, 06/18/2024