Biden proposes first-ever nationwide worker protections from heat

As the nation sizzles, the Biden administration is proposing the nation’s first-ever standards aimed at protecting workers from extreme heat. 

If finalized, the proposal would mandate that employers provide rest breaks and access to shade and water for workers who face extreme heat risks. 

They would also be required to identify heat hazards and develop heat illness and emergency response plans. 

However, it’s not clear whether the standards will ever actually take effect: they’re unlikely to be finalized by the end of Biden’s term, and a Trump administration is not expected to move them past the finish line.