When it’s too hot to work
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 29 July 2024
⏱️ 25 minutes
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Summary
This month, Earth hit its hottest days recorded in history. But even on the warmest days, millions of workers in the U.S. labor in heat that is increasingly hazardous to their health.
This month, the Biden administration proposed a rule that, for the first time, would protect such workers, whether their jobs are indoors or outdoors. The proposal sets out two heat index triggers that would apply nationally and require employers to offer drinking water, among other safeguards.
Yet some employers, in areas such as agriculture, construction and tourism, are resisting the changes, arguing that they would make their sectors less competitive.
Today on “Post Reports,” Elahe Izadi speaks with climate change reporter Anna Phillips about the federal government’s efforts to protect workers.
Today’s show was produced by Trinity Webster-Bass, with support from Elana Gordon. It was edited by Monica Campbell and mixed by Sean Carter.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This month Earth has hit its hottest days recorded in history. |
| 0:07.0 | And our team coverage of the extreme heat continues now. |
| 0:12.2 | Nearly 100 million Americans from coast to coast |
| 0:15.4 | are under excessive heat warnings and advisories. |
| 0:18.3 | The scorching sun and stifling humidity |
| 0:21.4 | are pushing real field conditions into the triple digits. |
| 0:24.1 | The extreme weather is not just impacting the US, parts of Europe are also experiencing |
| 0:28.7 | dangerously high temperatures and the threat of wildfires. |
| 0:32.1 | Worldwide, scientists say about 3.6 billion people have endured temperatures lately |
| 0:38.0 | that would have been rare in a world without fossil fuels and other human activities. |
| 0:42.0 | It's fair to say at this point that fossil fuels and other human activities. |
| 0:43.0 | It's fair to say at this point that most of the US has experienced the effects of climate change. |
| 0:50.0 | We're seeing temperature records being broken, especially on the west coast. |
| 0:57.0 | Anna Phillips is a climate reporter for the post. |
| 1:00.0 | There were a number of deaths reported that authorities suspect at this point are linked to the heat. |
| 1:07.0 | Anna has been reporting on who is most vulnerable to the heat here in the US, particularly people working, |
| 1:18.0 | whether their jobs are indoors or outdoors. |
| 1:20.8 | Right now workers can ask for water be provided by their employers, but there are really no |
| 1:26.8 | other restrictions in place or requirements in place that require employers to let's say air condition a workplace or to provide shade for people |
| 1:38.7 | who are outside for hours a day. |
| 1:41.5 | But earlier this month the Biden administration proposed a |
| 1:44.8 | rule that for the first time would protect workers from extreme |
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