In Tucson, Labor Secretary Julie Su talks federal heat protections

Acting Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su was in Tucson on Wednesday for a meeting with local workers and leaders about the dangers of heat in the workplace. It comes less than a month after the Labor Department unveiled a proposal for the first-ever federal heat protection standards for workers.

Su was joined by Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Adelita Grijalva — along with local workers and labor union reps.

Su said the proposed rule included what she called basic, commonsense provisions, like paid rest time, water breaks and designated rest areas.

“Because we all know that otherwise, especially the most vulnerable workers, are forced to choose between their livelihood and their lives. And that’s a choice nobody should have to make,” she said.

Su said if enacted, the rule would protect 36 million indoor and outdoor workers nationwide. Panelist April Ignacio works as a forklift operator and warehouse manager for the Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association, which provides affordable housing for tribal members. She said the new federal rule needed funding to be effective.

“And those of us that are going to stay in this field, understand that in order for this to be sustainable, it needs to be attached with dollars, it needs to be attached with funding,” she said.

Last month, Pima became the first county in Arizona to pass heat regulations for its workers, contractors and subcontractors. The city of Tucson has a similar ordinance. But, as local leaders pointed out, without federal or state regulations the scope of those measures is limited.

Su said more than 870 people died from heat-related causes in Arizona last year, and the new rules would require employers to present a plan of action for when workers exhibit heat illness.

“So that workers and their employers can identify heat illness to know what it looks like, right? Because anybody who’s suffered it, any worker, and I’ve heard lots of worker stories about this, know that heat illness comes on fast,” she said.

Jim Fredrick, principal deputy assistant secretary at OSHA, says about half of U.S. states have implemented what’s called a state plan with OSHA.

“And then, that state has the legal authority to implement workplace health and safety. Arizona is one of those states that have done that,” he said.

But Fredrick says Arizona doesn’t currently have its own heat standards within that state plan. A program implemented last year allows state workplace inspectors to visit work sites and ensure they’re safe from heat hazards. But there’s no official baseline for what is considered adequate protections.

Fredrick says the new federal rule would require state regulations that are at least as stringent as the federal ones and would also require employers to come up with a plan to recognize and respond to heat injuries.

“And essentially what we are trying to make certain is that baseline heat illness and injury prevention programs are in place in workplaces, and it really comes down to some pretty simple, commonsense measures,” he said.

The Labor Department posted the proposal at the end of August, and public comment is open until the end of the year.