The Biden administration proposed a new rule to address heat exposure in the workplace, aimed at protecting an estimated 36 million U.S. workers from injuries related to excessive heat. The measure would establish the first major federal safety standard of its kind and require employers to identify heat hazards, develop emergency response plans, and provide training on heat illness symptoms. Penalties for heat-related violations would increase significantly. Heat-related illnesses led to an estimated 2,300 deaths in the U.S. in 2023. Despite increased awareness of the risks of high temperatures, protections for those exposed to extreme heat have lagged. The Labor Department has been working on a standard since 2021. Several states have workplace heat exposure regulations, but some have faced opposition. If finalized, the federal rule would override state measures, and states would need to comply with the new federal standards. President Biden planned to highlight the rule and the need for addressing extreme weather conditions. Individuals in a variety of industries, such as farmworkers, delivery and construction workers, and indoor workers in warehouses and factories, would benefit from these protections.fuscated or hidden is exposed.
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