An Arizona lawmaker wants new legislation to ensure that heat-related deaths are properly documented.
An investigation by ABC15 this month shows dozens of people who died in Maricopa County from heat-related causes may not have their deaths counted in heat-death statistics. Phoenix Democrat Analise Ortiz said the entire state needs a standardized operation for documenting heat deaths:
“I'm exploring different ways we can change policy to make sure we are accurately counting deaths,” Ortiz said.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement to ABC15 that the office “rigorously” investigates heat-related deaths and the forensic pathologists “use their best medical judgement.”
The office didn’t immediately respond to a request for clarification from KJZZ.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the people who were not counted as heat-related deaths were people who were homeless, and that is just heartbreaking, I mean every single person who lives on the street their lives matter, they’re human beings,” Ortiz said.
Last year was the first year that heat-related deaths slightly decreased in over a decade.
Heat-related deaths include deaths where the person died directly from environmental causes, and deaths where heat was a contributing factor. In Arizona, many of these deaths occurred outdoors.
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The victim was an older adult male, but officials have not released any additional details about the case. Temperatures this spring have been much hotter than average. -
According to National Weather Service data, temperatures have averaged about 8.3 degrees above-normal so far this month – the third-hottest start to April on record in Phoenix. -
The Industrial Commission of Arizona voted to adopt heat safety guidelines for workplaces in the state. But labor groups still hope for enforceable regulations. -
Arizona labor groups are calling for state regulations to require specific protections from heat in workplaces. But actions from the state have so far fallen short of what workers have called for. -
As the Industrial Commission of Arizona considers workplace heat safety recommendations, some employers say they would welcome new heat rules, but others worry about overregulation.
