Most States Leave Heat-Stricken Workers Without Legal Protection
Source: NYT > Business (paywall)
Only a handful of U.S. states have explicit heat safety standards for workers, and several actively block local jurisdictions from filling the gap—creating a patchwork where postal carriers, construction workers, and outdoor laborers have virtually no federal recourse during deadly temperature events. This regulatory void reflects how occupational safety standards lag behind climate reality: heat-related deaths are rising, yet OSHA has no federal heat standard and states like Texas have preemptively neutered municipal protections, leaving liability and risk entirely with employers and workers. The absence of enforceable heat rules stems from deliberate policy choices that prioritize business flexibility over worker safety.