Contact: Joe Smydo, jsmydo@usw.org, 412-562-2281
United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall issued the following statement today praising the heat standard proposed by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“President Joe Biden’s administration has come through for workers once again with groundbreaking protections for Americans exposed to deadly temperatures on the job.
“OSHA’s proposed standard contains common-sense safeguards, including regular rest breaks and hydration, that will not only save lives but prevent countless illnesses and injuries. While unions regularly negotiate these kinds of protections for their members, the new standard would set a high national bar and expand coverage for millions more workers at a time when the country is experiencing record heat waves triggered by climate change.
“Workers deserve to return home safely at the end of their shifts each day, and advancing the heat standard is the latest in a series of Biden administration actions to ensure that they do. Like the administration’s new ‘walkaround rule’ for workplace inspections and the new silica standard for miners, the heat standard represents a crucial victory for working families.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, mining, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, the service, public and health care sectors and higher education. For more information: www.usw.org.