Federal agencies and Republican lawmakers are weakening workplace safety standards aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and fatalities, despite growing concerns over extreme temperatures. Outdoor workers, such as those in construction, face heightened risks as heat exposure becomes more dangerous without adequate protections. Employers are being given fewer restrictions on providing shade, hydration, and cooling measures for employees laboring in high-heat conditions. Critics argue the changes could leave vulnerable workers more susceptible to heat stress without proper safeguards.
Trump officials and Republicans are rolling back protections against heat-related illnesses and deathsWhen it’s 90F on a hot summer day, Esther Minton wears a long-sleeved shirt to work.“Working outside, you don’t have cover. There’s nowhere for you to really go if you’re on a roof or if you’re on the side of a building,” said Minton, a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 28 in New York City. “Having the sun beaming on your skin all day long, you’ll never make it through, so what you wear makes a difference.” Continue reading...
