WASHINGTON (June 28, 2023)— Much of south-central Texas has been under extreme heat advisories for weeks with some cities registering 118 to 119 degrees, coming close to the state’s previous all-time high of 120 degrees. The heat wave is expected to continue and expand northward and eastward this week, extending through July 4. Despite the extreme temperatures impacting his state, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law last week that would rescind local ordinances requiring water breaks for workers.
David Michaels, a professor of environmental and occupational health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and a former administrator of OSHA is available to comment on the Texas law and the health risks to workers exposed to extreme heat.
He has written a letter to members of the Texas legislature on the law saying:
This legislation is premised on an incorrect and dangerous interpretation of the regulations and policies of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Passage of this bill will greatly increase the risk of heat illness and death among Texas workers.
Michaels goes on to say that despite arguments to the contrary, OSHA has no heat standard to protect workers.
In the absence of federal protections, it is imperative that states and municipalities implement protections to ensure workers do not suffer from dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or death.
To interview Professor Michaels, please contact Kathy Fackelmann, [email protected] or Rachel Larris, [email protected].