Biden Administration to Announce First National Heat Protections for Workers

The Biden administration on Tuesday will propose first-of-their-kind regulations to protect farm and construction workers, kitchen cooks and millions of other Americans exposed to dangerous heat on the job.

President Biden is expected to discuss those worker protections when he visits the District of Columbia’s emergency operations center, where he will also receive a briefing from federal scientists about extreme temperatures forecast for this summer.

The proposed regulation comes as a heat wave settles over California this week and triple-digit heat is also expected to scorch Portland over the July 4 weekend. That follows an early heat wave last month that had much of the country sweltering.

Last year, the hottest in recorded history, brought 2,300 heat-related fatalities in the United States, most likely an undercount, while emergency room visits for heat illnesses surged.

The proposed regulation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would for the first time require employers to monitor workers and provide rest areas and water when the heat index reaches 80 degrees or higher. Employers would also be required to establish heat safety plans. The rule could apply to about 35 million Americans who work both indoors and outdoors, senior administration officials said in a call with reporters on Monday.

The heat index is a combination of air temperature and humidity.

Mr. Biden will also announce nearly $1 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law to help communities build resilience to weather-related disasters.