Washington, D.C. (July 2, 2024) – Brent Booker, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today:

LIUNA commends the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on today’s proposed rule to establish the nation’s first-ever federal safety standard to address excessive heat on job sites.

 

The new safety standard will help address the dangerous conditions facing our members and other construction workers who often work in high-heat conditions. It is imperative to establish clear, enforceable standards to ensure their safety and well-being. A federal OSHA heat rule would provide uniform protections across the nation, ensuring that all workers have the right to safe and healthy working conditions.

 

The proposed rule includes requirements for identifying heat hazards, developing heat illness and emergency response plans, implementing acclimation plans for workers in new high-heat conditions, providing training to employees and supervisors, and implementing standards — including rest breaks and access to shade and water.

 

According to OSHA, the rule could affect approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace. 

 

LIUNA looks forward to working with the Administration on finalizing and implementing this rule, which will make workplaces safer for millions of construction workers.

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The half-million members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build the United States and Canada.