heat-related illnesses
Newsletter
Credit: International Labour Organization ILO/Flickr
Indoor farming: a climate solution with hidden dangers for workers
Greenhouse workers face extreme heat and humidity, risking their health in structures designed to protect plants, not people.
Melina Walling and Dorany Pineda report for the Associated Press.
In short:
- Greenhouse and nursery workers are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, often exceeding 100°F, leading to heat-related illnesses.
- These workers lack adequate protections and breaks, making them vulnerable to heat stress, dizziness, and other health issues.
- Efforts to include greenhouses in indoor agriculture solutions need to account for better worker protections and enforcement.
Key quote:
"Many times we don’t leave to cool off for a short while. It’s not because we wouldn’t want to do it, but because we’re scared that they would dismiss us."
— Eulalia Mendoza, former greenhouse worker.
Why this matters:
This isn't just a labor issue; it's an environmental and public health crisis. With regulators slow to adapt and industry leaders often prioritizing profit over people, greenhouse workers are left in a perilous bind. Read more: “Dehumanizing” conditions for Michigan farmworkers.
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Newsletter
Credit: Graeme Maclean/Flickr
Deadly heat wave sweeps across the US, claiming lives
A severe heat wave has caused at least 28 deaths across the United States, with the toll expected to rise as high temperatures persist.
In short:
- The heat wave has primarily impacted California, Oregon, and Arizona, resulting in record-breaking temperatures and multiple fatalities.
- Most victims were elderly and found in their homes; other deaths include a motorcyclist in Death Valley and a baby in Arizona.
- Heat-related deaths are often underreported, as they are frequently attributed to other causes such as heart failure
Key quote:
“The extreme nature of the heat last summer and this summer has meant it’s in the forefront of everyone’s mind, including those in charge of classifying health outcomes and deaths."
— Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University
Why this matters:
As the climate crisis intensifies, the frequency and severity of heatwaves are expected to increase, posing a serious threat to public health and the environment. This brutal reminder of our changing climate heightens the pressure for action to mitigate the impacts of global warming. Read more: We are undercounting heat-related deaths in the US.
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Top Story
Credit: International Labour Organization ILO/Flickr
Biden condemns climate denial, unveils new heat protections for workers
President Biden denounced climate change denial and announced new regulations to protect workers from extreme heat, as California and Oregon prepare for record-breaking temperatures.
Lisa Friedman and Noah Weiland report for The New York Times.
In short:
- President Biden emphasized the dangers of ignoring climate change and highlighted the deadly impact of extreme heat, proposing new regulations for worker protection.
- The proposed OSHA regulation would mandate that employers monitor workers and provide rest areas and water when the heat index reaches 80 degrees or higher.
- Environmental groups and labor unions praised the protections, while industry groups argued the rule would be costly and hard to implement.
Key quote:
“Anyone who wilfully denies the impacts of climate change is condemning the American people to a dangerous future and either is really, really dumb or has some other motive.”
— U.S. President Joe Biden
Why this matters:
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., causing more deaths than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined. As climate change intensifies, extreme heat poses greater health risks, making protective regulations increasingly important for worker safety and public health resilience. Read more: We are undercounting heat-related deaths in the US.
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Newsletter
Credit: PAUL GAVINGER/Flickr
American workers face increasing heat dangers without adequate federal protections
Despite the rising threat of heat-related illnesses and deaths, the U.S. lacks comprehensive federal regulations to safeguard workers from extreme heat.
In short:
- In the U.S., heat kills more people annually than tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods combined, particularly affecting outdoor and indoor laborers.
- California has recently moved to protect indoor workers, and OSHA is expected to propose new heat protection rules, though they face significant opposition.
- Heat exposure can cause systemic inflammation and organ damage, leading to severe health consequences like chronic kidney disease.
Key quote:
"You can be completely hydrated and still have heatstroke."
— Jason Glaser, CEO of La Isla Network
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies, workers are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related health issues, making it crucial to implement stronger protections to prevent further loss of life and long-term health complications. Read more: We are undercounting heat-related deaths in the US.
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In Canada’s coldest city, homes built for warmth are way too hot
As apartments and seniors’ residences become ‘heat boxes’ in Winnipeg, residents and advocates are calling on governments to enact legislation to protect tenants as climate change means more very hot days than ever before, Julia-Simone Rutgers writes forThe Narwhal.
In a nutshell:
During this summer of record-setting heat, we've been seeing a lot of reporting on vulnerable populations sweltering, sickening and sometimes dying in stifling apartments or out on the streets. Some cities have resources and support teams in place to cope with extreme heat events and some do not. Winnipeg, the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Manitoba, tends to invoke images of a parka-clad populace struggling to stay warm through long bitter winters and until recently scant attention has been paid to keeping cool through Winnipeg's short, but ever-hotter, summers.
Key quote:
“There’s an extreme lack of understanding of how closely linked the affordability, health and climate crisis are. People are siloing these issues without recognizing that increased heat means significant health consequences and lack of affordable energy means an affordability crisis.”
Big picture:
It doesn't have to be 100 degrees F to threaten lives. In one of Canada's coldest cities, in a province famous for a large concentration of polar bears, overheating is not something that immediately comes to mind, but a brutal mid-June heat wave laid bare Winnipeg's problems of old, energy-inefficient buildings, deficient tree canopy and insufficient infrastructure. Many solutions for keeping cool, such as heat pumps or air conditioning or even a simple electric fan are a financial stretch for vulnerable populations.
Read the full story in The Narwhal
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Rep. Greg Casar refuses water to protest lack of worker heat protection
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Tex.) refused water for eight hours to raise awareness about the dangerous conditions workers face in heat waves.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steevithak/Flickrhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
The troubling heat in Texas and its ties to climate change in 5 maps
Texas is no stranger to searing heat, but the heat wave that arrived last week is becoming exceptional for its intensity and duration.
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