Record summer heat creating a need for national protection standards

Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director for the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the dangerously high temperatures that have been impacting workers all over the country this summer. She also talked about the need for a national standard for worker protections, and the effort needed from the labor movement to achieve this goal.  

Poor workplace conditions are regularly reported to NCOSH by workers and unions. Goldstein-Gelb added that her colleagues and many union partners have described the last few months as the, “Summer of Heat Slaughter.” But it’s not just individuals working outside, as indoor facilities and factories also see high rates of workers getting sick from heat exhaustion. 

We’re not helpless in protecting workers from the heat elements causing harm. Still, only five states have taken common sense approaches by mandating water breaks and proper ventilation in facilities, Goldstein-Gelb said. Only Oregon has rules in place to protect both workers indoors and outdoors. There is a need for a national standard regarding worker protections during high temperatures, and such an initiative is being pushed with the help of the AFL-CIO to at least come up with interim minimal protections nationwide, Goldstein-Gelb said. 

Goldstein-Gelb expressed hope that the government may soon set a national standard. There’s been far too much push for worker protections to just ignore the voice of workers. Given the hot summer and the number of issues it has created, it seems obvious that stripping away protections is not helping employers with their bottom line, much less protecting workers. There will be a week of action starting Aug 28, and its goal will be to have members of Congress introduce a bill to create national standards to protect workers from heat-related issues.

To hear more from Goldstein-Gelb and some of the stories from workers, please press play above.