Biden Plans Extreme Heat Protections For Workers—As Temperature Records Fall

The Biden administration plans to require employers to give workers shaded rest areas and water when temperatures soar, part of a proposed rule that comes as temperature records fall nationwide—as some states have prevented local governments from providing similar protections in recent months.

Under proposed regulations for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers in the U.S. will be required to monitor their workers and provide access to shade, water and rest breaks, the White House said.

The new protections will be required when the heat index—what the temperature feels like with added humidity—reaches 80 degrees or higher.

Employers will also be required to identify potential heat hazards and develop an emergency response plan to treat heat-related illnesses, in addition to training employees and supervisors to deal with those illnesses.