"Will Trump End the First Federal Heat Protections for Workers?"

Starting Monday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is holding public hearings on a proposed rule to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths at work, which is the first federal rule of its kind. Put forward last summer by the Biden administration, the regulation would require employers to provide water and rest breaks when temperatures surpass certain levels...

...the rule as written has faced opposition from businesses and Republicans.

Deaths and illnesses related to heat exposure have increased sharply in recent years as climate change pushes temperatures higher...

....Mr. Keeling is a former health and safety executive at UPS and Amazon, and both companies have been fined for workplace safety citations, including for heat-related illnesses...

...Health advocates saw the Trump administration’s decision to move forward with public hearings as a potentially positive sign, though they feared the federal government would push through a weak rule that would prevent certain state and local governments from passing stricter measures...

The proposed OSHA rule establishes heat thresholds that trigger specific employer responsibilities...

...UPS said in a statement that it was always looking for ways to improve safety. Amazon said that safety was its top priority...