Katelyn Parady, a Phoenix-based Staffer for the National Council for Occupational Safety & Health (National COSH), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the recent city ordinance in Phoenix that will provide protection from extreme heat in the workplace.
In the last 12 months, several states have passed laws focused on protecting workers from extreme temperatures. For some states and cities, the protections focused on limiting a companies responsibilities. In Phoenix, the city passed an ordinance to protect workers from working in hazardous temperatures without protection. Parady discussed the potential dangers when working in extreme temperatures, especially the high temperatures workers experience in the Phoenix area.
Parady discussed how the city ordinance came to be and her work with members of the Phoenix labor community. She discussed the hazardous work environments for workers who, at times, would have to work in trucks with no air conditioning and no protection from the sun and heat.
The new ordinance protects workers and provides necessary training for employers and workers on how to operate safely in extreme heat. While the ordinance will establish regulations for a safer workplace, Parady said no new methods of monitoring contractors are in place. While this is a positive first step, Parady noted there is still a long way to go before they perfect the ordinance and provide the proper protections for workers.
Listen to the show above to hear more about the city ordinance in Phoenix.