President Joe Biden told the Labor Department on Thursday to issue an alert for extreme heat and to ramp up workplace safety enforcement as scorching temperatures engulf much of the country. This summer’s heat has created dangerous conditions for millions of workers who toil outdoors or in hot facilities like warehouses. AdvertisementThe Biden administration said it will call on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is part of the Labor Department, to increase safety inspections in high-risk fields, including construction and agriculture, in the coming weeks. A large number of workplace safety and environmental groups ― as well as a former OSHA leader ― have been calling on the Biden administration to issue clear and enforceable rules as soon as possible. “The Biden administration must act.”Parts of the Southwest have seen record-setting heat for weeks, with Phoenix enduring a nearly monthlong streak of days topping 110 degrees.

Source: Huffington Post July 27, 2023 12:27 UTC