When the summer on Friday officially begins to urge employees and employees of the employees to support more state legislation to support people who have to work outside in the hot temperatures.
If a person's body cannot get their internal temperature down in these warm climates, it can lead to heat stroke or heat creation. Heat stress is the most common cause of weather-related deaths and can worsen the underlying diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, mental health and asthma and can increase the risk of accidents and the transfer of some infectious diseases that can increase some infectious diseases, the transfer of some infectious diseases, According to the World Health Organization.
“This is an urgent problem, since this mainly affects workers with low wages who often have no choice, but go to work … Under these extreme heating conditions to earn their livelihood,” said Ramón Zepeda Ramos, organizer of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.
There are currently no federal rules or nationwide regulations if external workers should be allowed to take breaks or access to shadows and water when the temperatures increase. Vocational security and health administration begins with public hearings about a rule proposed From the former administration of former President Joe Biden, which would trigger shadow and water access requirements if the heat index reaches 80 degrees. In addition, 15 -minute breaks should be required every two hours if the heat index reaches 90 degrees.
Lawyers said that the state must also take measures with the Osha hearing from this week, since the OSHA can often take years to implement a rule, and there is no clear idea if the current administration would implement such a rule. In the influence on the federal agency, the supporters are of the opinion that it will be unlikely that the rule will be entered into force even if it is adopted.
“We cannot continue to wait for federal measures that may never come. Every worker would deserve security, access to water, calm and shadow. The ability to speak without fear,” said Manuel Gago, program director for the employee of the employee at the judicial center for legal assistance.
According to the Virginia Ministry of Health, over 400 people have been treated since May 1 of this year because of heat -related illness. Heat effects can often be difficult to identify, so that it is probably the true scope of patients with heat -related diseases.
In the 2025 general assembly, two invoices were introduced in which employees who must be exposed to the elements wanted to make relief. Bill house 1980 And Senate Bill 1103Sponsored by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond and DEL. Phil Hernandez, D-Norfolk, would have made it possible for the workers affected by the heat to collect damages of $ 1,000, temporary relief or both. Both legislation were in the Senate Finance Committee.
“It is a simple strategy that has been working all over nature for thousands of years,” said Hernandez in an explanation. “Our approach to the protection of employees is a new, data -driven approach in which the workers in Virginia have the greatest risk and adapt the rules to adaptation of these areas.”
The New York Times reported that In a hearing of the congress this week, the opponents of the new rule claimed that they could confuse companies and communities financially. Seven states have adopted their own thermal protection rules for workers indoors and outdoors.
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