Extreme Heat Spurs New Laws Aimed at Protecting Workers Worldwide (nytimes.com)
- Reference: 0179328440
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/09/17/192234/extreme-heat-spurs-new-laws-aimed-at-protecting-workers-worldwide
- Source link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/climate/employee-heat-protection-laws.html
Japan imposed $3,400 fines for employers failing to provide cooling measures when wet-bulb temperatures reach 28C. Singapore mandated hourly temperature sensors at large outdoor sites and requires 15-minute breaks every hour at 33C wet-bulb readings. Southern European nations ordered afternoon work stoppages this summer when temperatures exceeded 115F across Greece, Italy and Spain.
The United States lacks federal heat standards; only California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have state-level protections. Boston passed requirements for heat illness prevention plans on city projects. Enforcement remains inconsistent -- Singapore inspectors found nearly one-third of 70 sites violated the 2023 law. Texas and Florida prohibit local governments from mandating rest and water breaks.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/climate/employee-heat-protection-laws.html
[2] https://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2025-who-wmo-issue-new-report-and-guidance-to-protect-workers-from-increasing-heat-stress
Meanwhile... (Score:4, Interesting)
The US is dropping [1]workplace safety monitoring [prospect.org], particularly for [2]all those miners [theguardian.com] whom a certain nostalgic segment of people who have never worked in mines like to claim they're looking out for.
The [3]US was doing something [dol.gov]. That effort appears dead now.
Instead, states like Florida and [4]Texas [kut.org] are heading the other direction, making it impossible for local government to protect people.
I'm sure your foreman will allow you have water every 2 hours, he's a nice guy, right? Not that like that last jerk.
[1] https://prospect.org/labor/2025-04-18-osha-office-closure-cancer-alley-louisiana/
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/19/trump-coal-mining-health-cuts
[3] https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20240702
[4] https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-07-18/appeals-court-upholds-texas-death-star-law-limiting-cities-enforcement-of-local-ordinances
Re: (Score:3)
You missed the best part and directly related to this story. Texas got rid of the mandate that construction companies [1]provide breaks for their workers in high heat [npr.org].
This doesn't mean the company can't give their workers breaks, just that it is no longer mandated. How many do you think no longer give these breaks?
[1] https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/21/1189179220/amid-a-record-heat-wave-texas-construction-workers-lose-their-right-to-rest-brea
Re:Meanwhile... (Score:4, Insightful)
It's real. Texas has banned it. A state run by so-called "pro-life" "Christians" who espouse "small and limited government" have, once again, overturned a life saving measures enacted by local city governments.
[1]https://thehill.com/opinion/he... [thehill.com]
[1] https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4083914-as-texas-bans-water-breaks-we-must-treat-heat-as-a-public-health-issue/
Re: (Score:2)
I think you said it right and said it well. I also find it ironic that most "pro-life" people think that there are too many people on the planet. To me that points to a mindset that thinks that their race is a superior race and their thoughts are superior and other races should be exterminated. It is analogous to what the NAZI's think. Ping me if you think I am wrong about this.
the plutocracy (Score:1)
As the US devolves into autocratic plutocracy, the will and needs of the citizenry will be more and or neutered. They want our data, our privacy and above all, our money. We will soon be little more that serfs. And serfs don't need to be taken care of, they're replaceable. Don't forget the evangelicals, they believe the notion man can change what god created to use as we see fit is pure arrogance. They are the useful idiots of the American downfall.
Re: (Score:2)
In simple terms, Trump and MAGAs are making My Country, America, a third world, shithole country, where there is no middle class anymore. Words and meaning of words don't matter to Trump and MAGAs anymore. It is all "swirling" into serfdom to serve the Rich class, like in Russia.
we hate people, and we're proud of it! (Score:1)
Texas and Florida prohibit local governments from mandating rest and water breaks.
Re: (Score:1)
All you have to do is see the ethnicity of the people doing most of the work and you'll understand why they have such a callous demeanor towards requiring breaks.
bugs bunny (Score:1)
Texas and Florida prohibit local governments from mandating rest and water breaks.
bugs bunny should update the animation ( [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com] )
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl-2I8_HQG8
Re: (Score:2)
I think a lot of MAGAs use bugs bunny logic on most things. Trump repeats that he is like Lincoln. I distrust people that say things like: "Everybody", "Nobody", "Never in the History". I do not agree at all, he is the opposite. Please don't give up on Austin, TX, where I live. We are a very Liberal City, and I am very aware that our cripple of a Governor wants to "crack down on us". We are standing strong for the American Values that our Founding Fathers and the Constitution of the United States
Re: (Score:2)
But ya... I wouldn't mind if Florida were cut off of the USA. They will sink into the ocean soon, I hope. They in a way asked for it by their willful ignorance.
Eh? (Score:2)
At no point during my working hours in Brazil or Saudi did the temperature drop below 30C, it was usually 37 to 47C outdoors with temps sitting around 50C indoors.
Um (Score:2)
Doesn't America hate Americans?
Re: (Score:2)
We do not. America is based on an idea that All people are created equal. Other nations swear oaths to a person, we swear an oath to an idea that all people are created equal. We are about the rule of Law, and not of a Person. MAGAs are twisted in their ideas of this, and are a cult. We Americans deal with this over time. Bad things happen sometimes. The Constitution always emerges over time, and prevails. Similar to how every human does bad things once and awhile, but that person is not bad.
115F? (Score:2)
Is there a maximum limit to the number of times you can say Celsius in a paragraph before an American's head explodes? Is that why the units were mixed in the most braindead way while talking about a group of countries that explicitly don't use Fahrenheit?
Re: (Score:2)
I had a similar thought. I appreciate when both system are included, as it usually saves me time getting an exact conversion if I care, but that obviously isn't the way to do it.
Re: (Score:2)
Because then you have to think a second before saying things like:
28C? That's what we call a nice day in Florida!