Congress Must Implement a Federal Heat Stress Standard
Public Citizen Supports Legislation to Protect Workers From the Heat
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.,) Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced Thursday the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act that would require the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to implement heat stress standards to protect U.S. workers. Public Citizen has long advocated for a national heat stress standard. Juley Fulcher, worker health and safety advocate for Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“Not only does heat stress kill workers, but this is also a racial justice issue. Essential jobs where employees are exposed to high levels of heat are disproportionately held by Black and Brown workers.
This important legislation from Sens. Harris and Brown would tackle both the impacts of climate change and racial inequities by implementing these critical heat protections for workers.”