As extreme heat soars, laws to protect outdoor workers are bubbling up — and facing resistance
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On Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners will take a final vote on a proposed heat standard to protect outdoor workers. If approved, it will be the first comprehensive local heat standard for outdoor workers in the country, going beyond requiring rest breaks and giving local officials regulatory teeth in a realm that lacks real oversight...
Nov. 7 is the final hurdle. If commissioners approve the standard, it could be the strongest local heat rule in the country, said Oscar Londoño, co-executive director of WeCount!.
The proposal would require employers to have heat safety programs in place, including acclimatization practices to gradually — and safely — condition workers to the heat and workload (many heat-related deaths occur during the first week of work). The standard would also require employers to have first aid and emergency procedures, and give workers 10-minute water and rest breaks in the shade every two hours on very hot days.
But the real bite behind the Miami rule would be the creation of an enforcement arm at the county level. Employers who violate the standard would face financial penalties, possible suspension of county contracts and permits, requirements for extra training and inspections in the event of repeat offenses, and their violations listed in a public database.
Crucially, workers would also gain the right to sue employers if they are retaliated against for exercising their workplace safety rights...