heat exposure
Newsletter
Credit: zenpix/Big Stock Photo
Florida's farmworkers face a new challenge as state bans heat protections
Florida's Senate has passed a bill prohibiting local jurisdictions from enacting measures to protect workers from heat exposure, a decision that could endanger the lives of farmworkers across the state.
In short:
- Florida's new legislation bans local protections for farmworkers against heat, including access to water, shade, and breaks.
- The Fair Food Program (FFP) offers a beacon of hope with its strong, legally binding heat protocols, expanding to protect workers in 25 states.
- Despite federal inaction, the FFP's success showcases a model for worker-driven social responsibility, gaining traction in various industries.
Key quote:
"We as workers can't afford to wait for the Florida legislature to find its conscience."
— Gerardo Reyes Chavez, former farmworker and organizer with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Why this matters:
Several states are considering legislation that would exempt agricultural employers from new regulations designed to protect farmworkers from extreme heat. This pushback comes at a time when climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and severe, posing increased risks to those working in the fields.
LISTEN: Nayamin Martinez on organizing for farmworker justice.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Heat wave blankets NC, raises risk of health effects
A streak of high-temperature days has the potential to harm many people, especially those without air conditioning or those who work outdoors.
Newsletter
Pregnancy becomes a more vulnerable time with climate change
Wildfires, natural disasters, rising heat because of climate change can lead to poor health outcomes for pregnant people and babies.
therevelator.org
6 things to know about climate change and heat waves
The deadliest weather event is often the most overlooked.
Heat and smog exposure hit low-income and people of color hardest
Two new studies show that low-income communities and people of color experienced greater heat exposure in 97 percent of cities analyzed, as well as higher hospitalization rates when smog and heatwaves occurred at the same time.
Left without school or day care, farmworkers are bringing their kids to work
The coronavirus has created a unique crisis for impoverished agriculture workers.
www.theguardian.com
UK weather: rail travel disrupted after extreme heat causes chaos
Many services affected across Britain as people advised against all but essential travel.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
