outdoor workers

Laborers have suffered in extreme heat triggered by climate change. Deaths aren’t inevitable, and employers can save lives by providing ample water and breaks, researchers say.

Employers are exploring wearable technologies to keep workers safe. Devices collect biometric data to estimate signs of heat stress and prompt workers to take a break before their health deteriorates.

Extreme temperatures can cause far more than sweaty clothes, especially for outdoor workers, children training outside or people 65 and older with chronic conditions.

The Biden administration released a proposed rule that would require employers to provide such things as water and rest breaks when temperatures top certain thresholds.

U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and others met in Pembroke Pines to discuss heat dangers for workers and efforts to set a federal heat standard.

In April, OSHA officials drafted an initial framework that unanimously recommended moving forward with talks over federal rules to protect workers.

Federal data shows about 2,300 fatalities last summer with death certificates mentioning the effects of excessive heat. That's the highest in 45 years of records.

Researchers looked at workers' comp claims in 24 states and found that excessive temperatures increased the frequency of injuries, with risks in the South particularly higher.

Miami-Dade wanted to enact rules, but the new state law prevents cities and counties from doing so. Employers say they want consistency in regulations. Worker advocates call it "outrageous" as summer approaches.

County commissioners withdrew the bill because they couldn’t legally pass it after the Legislature advanced a measure banning any local government from setting its own heat enforcement rules.