On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced plans to protect workers and communities from the rising temperatures that are sweeping across the United States.
"The number 1 weather-related killer is heat. Six hundred people die annually from its effects — more than from floods, hurricanes and tornadoes in America combined," Biden said at the White House.
"Even those who deny that we’re in the midst of a climate crisis can’t deny the impact of extreme heat is having on Americans," he said.
According to Biden, he has directed the U.S. Department of Labor to increase enforcement of heat-safety violations and inspections in high-risk workplaces, such as construction and agriculture sites.
Since 2011, over 400 work-related deaths have been caused by heat exposure, according to federal statistics.
According to the White House, the Labor Department will also issue a hazard alert to tell employers what they should do to protect workers, help ensure employees are aware of their rights, and highlight steps the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has to try to ensure worker safety.
"We should be protecting workers from hazardous conditions, and we will," said Biden.
The White House also said that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is going to invest up to $7 million to improve weather forecasts to allow communities to better prepare for extreme weather.
OSHA continues to develop national standards for heat safety in the workplace.
“I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of climate change anymore,” Biden said, adding, “I don’t know anybody who honestly believes climate change is not a serious problem.”
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Source: NBC News
