National COSH Town Hall on Sept. 5 to Address Dangers of Workplace Heat Hazards
Workers and public officials will discuss the proposed OSHA heat standard and potential solutions on September 5, 2024.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Sep 04, 2024
As extreme heat continues to pose a threat to workers across the United States, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) is organizing a virtual town hall to address this issue.
The event—titled Fired Up! Town Hall: Workers Speak Out for Heat Justice—is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, at 3 p.m. ET. Available in both English and Spanish, this discussion unites frontline workers and key public officials to discuss the dangers associated with extreme heat in workplaces and explore potential solutions.
This discussion comes on the heels of OSHA publishing a proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention standard, which is currently open for public comment. The proposed standard aims to establish nationwide safety protections against heat-related injuries and fatalities in workplaces, an issue only worsened by the effects of climate change.
"Every day, workers are suffering - and some are losing their lives - from the relentless threat of extreme heat,” National COSH Executive Director Jessica E. Martinez said in a release. “At our Fired Up! Town Hall, we’ll amplify the voices of those on the front lines demanding change and discuss the public policy solutions that can drastically reduce risks and save lives."
The event will feature remarks from Assistant Secretary of Labor Doug Parker and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.), a sponsor of the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act. The town hall will also include testimonials from workers who have experienced the dangers of extreme heat firsthand.
For more information about the town hall or to register to attend, visit the event page.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.