AFSCME Advocates for Federal Heat Protection Standards for Workers

Advocates Push for Federal Heat Protection Standards Amid Rising Temperatures

As extreme heat continues to pose serious risks to workers, Dorothy Bryant, who leads AFSCME Local 44 under Council 3, addressed the issue during a press conference on Capitol Hill. Her message highlighted the urgent need for improved safety measures for laborers exposed to high temperatures.

Bryant shared a poignant account of Ronald Silver II, a Baltimore sanitation worker and member of Local 44, who tragically passed away last summer due to heat exposure. "Last August, he collapsed and died from heat stroke while working on his route," Bryant recounted. "It was over 100 degrees that day. There was no break scheduled. No cooling plan in place. Not having heat protection took his life."

Efforts by Council 3 to establish statewide heat standards culminated in the implementation of new regulations in September 2024. These standards require Maryland employers to provide essentials like water, shade, and rest breaks when the heat index surpasses 80 degrees. Unfortunately, these measures came a month too late for Silver.

At the federal level, no such protections currently exist. To address this gap, Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Judy Chu have proposed the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act. This legislation, named in memory of a grape picker who died in extreme heat, aims to establish enforceable federal standards to combat heat stress in workplaces.

The proposed act would mandate the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enforce these standards nationwide. This initiative comes at a critical time, as last year marked the hottest year recorded in U.S. history.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders voiced strong support for the bill, emphasizing the necessity of nationwide safeguards. "As the number of heat-related illnesses and fatalities continue to rise, it is well past time we adopt nationwide safeguards to better protect the workers who maintain our infrastructure, keep our streets clean, harvest our food, and keep our economy moving," he stated.

Echoing this sentiment, Bryant underscored the importance of federal action: "Ron Silver, and every worker who lost their lives to the heat, should still be with us today. Let’s honor their memory by passing federal heat protections now."