Today, over 130 groups and individuals petitioned OSHA to create a national heat safety standard
Washington state is one of only three states with a protective heat standard for workers
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today in support of a petition signed by over 100 labor, public health, environmental, and advocacy groups to urge the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue the first federal standard to protect workers from excessive heat. Washington state is one of only three states that currently have protective heat standards for workers.
“Without a federal heat stress standard, far too many workers’ health and safety are put at risk when they are forced to work in extreme heat without rest or water breaks. One death from heat stress is too many so I’m proud my home state of Washington is leading the way in protecting workers from excessive heat, and I will continue to push the Administration to ensure every worker, in every state, is afforded protections from heat stress.”
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