a sweeping rule on Tuesday to protect American workers from extreme heat — an already deadly threat that is becoming worse as climate change drives up temperatures around the globe.would, if finalized, establish the nation’s first-ever federal safety standard for excessive heat in both indoor and outdoor workplaces.
Whether the workplace heat protections ever see the light of day could hinge on the upcoming presidential election. The rule is not expected to be finalized until 2026,and has promised to dismantle many of President Joe Biden’s climate and environmental policies if elected to a second term in office.
Only a handful of states, including California, Oregon and Washington, have heat protections for workers.