Scorching Temperatures Spurn Feds to Call for Increased Worker Protections

October 3, 2023
Hall Benefits Law, LLC

Late July and early August brought about record-breaking heat waves nationwide, and many saw temperatures hit triple digits. In response, President Biden called for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to issue its first-ever heat-related Hazard Alert. DOL’s Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Hazard Alert on July 27, 2023, affirming protections for workers from excessive heat under federal law.

Phoenix saw twenty-seven consecutive days of temperatures registering 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, leading to at least eighteen deaths and more suspected. Texas experienced thirteen deaths, hundreds of injuries, and emergency room admissions to the heat. The sweltering temperatures continued into August in South Florida, Texas, and the Desert Southwest.

At the height of the heatwave on July 26 and 27, more than 250 million people in the U.S. experienced heat indices of over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat index measures how hot it feels to people outside, taking humidity into account, and determines when it becomes dangerous for the human body to be outdoors in the shade.

Since there are no federal or state laws or standards that protect workers from heat-related illnesses, it falls on employers to take measures to avoid such injuries. Supervisors should be trained to detect signs of heat stress, and employers should be willing to provide heat breaks, increased fluids, and other protections, especially for employees working outside or performing strenuous activities. The heat index provides workers with a better safety measure than the temperature.

Even though heat-related illness and injury are preventable, thousands become sick from heat while working each year, both indoors and outdoors. Some cases are fatal. Hazardous heat conditions can occur during any season under the right conditions, not just during heat waves.

HBL has experience in all areas of benefits and employment law, offering a comprehensive solution to all your business benefits and HR/employment needs. We help ensure you are in compliance with the complex requirements of ERISA and the IRS code, as well as those laws that impact you and your employees. Together, we reduce your exposure to potential legal or financial penalties. Learn more by calling 470-571-1007.

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Hall Benefits Law, LLC

HBL offers employers comprehensive legal guidance on benefits in mergers and acquisitions, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), executive compensation, health and welfare benefits, healthcare reform, and retirement plans. We counsel a wide spectrum of clients including small, mid-sized, and large companies, 401(k) investment advisors, health insurance brokers, accountants, attorneys, and HR consultants, just to name a few. HBL is passionate about advising clients, and we are dedicated to our mission: to provide comprehensive, personalized, and practical ERISA and benefits legal solutions that exceed client expectations.

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