opinion

Texas Workers Deserve Immediate Heat Safety Protection

Did you know OSHA's heat safety rule is still pending while workers face extreme danger? It's enraging that finalizing these rules could take years as workers suffer! This is yet another instance of officials' indifference and bureaucratic sloth putting lives at risk. Wake up, people! Our voices are powerful. Let's demand immediate action to protect workers now!

Published July 8, 2024 at 6:04am by Bridget Grumet

Another Death in Texas' Deadly Heat

John Guerrero Jr.'s first day at work was also his last day alive. The 46-year-old was a victim of Texas' deadly heat and the lack of worker protections in this state. On May 16, 2022, Guerrero was part of a crew laboring in direct sunlight with no shade, trying to frame walls for a luxury apartment building in East Austin. The heat index that day reached 96 degrees.

Despite having water and Gatorade available, Guerrero succumbed to heat stroke and died after his shift. This tragedy highlights the urgent need for heat safety standards and the culpability of Texas lawmakers in endangering workers' lives. It's infuriating that experts have been urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to act on this issue since 1972, and yet federal action has been painstakingly slow.

Heat exposure is among the top causes of worker deaths, with 600 to 2,000 fatalities and 170,000 injuries per year. The proposed rule by the Biden administration, championed by Rep. Greg Casar, is a step in the right direction, requiring rest breaks, shade, and water access when the heat index reaches 80 degrees. Employers would also have to provide training and establish emergency response plans, which could have saved Guerrero's life.

While federal officials recognize the urgency, the bureaucratic process is expected to take at least a year or two. Every day that passes is another day of strenuous work in unforgiving heat for people like Guerrero. Texas lawmakers have only made matters worse by striking down water break ordinances in Austin and Dallas.

Since the proposal of the federal rule, at least six workers in Texas have lost their lives to heat-related causes. Their stories are a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction. David Chincanchan, policy director for the Workers Defense Project, rightly pointed out that we are talking about individuals with lives, families, and dreams. They are a vital part of our community, and their lives are worth more than 10 or 15 minutes of productivity.

It's past time for OSHA to expedite its review and finalize the heat safety rule. We cannot afford to lose more workers to this preventable tragedy.