How Black People At Work Deal With Hot Temperatures

As global temperatures rise, the spotlight on extreme heat and its impact on workplace safety has intensified, especially in government discussions. Instances like postal workers succumbing to heat distress during blistering conditions highlight the dire consequences, yet the broader implications of heat on workplace safety are often less dramatic. A groundbreaking study published in *Environmental Health* investigated over 845,000 worker injuries reported to OSHA in 2023, correlating these incidents with weather data. The findings indicate that even minor temperature increases heighten the risk of workplace injuries across various industries, both indoor and outdoor. David Michaels, a study coauthor and former OSHA leader, emphasized that heat exacerbates not just severe health threats but also daily injuries. Additionally, while demographic data was not examined, higher injury rates were noted in sectors like agriculture and construction, predominantly employing Black and Brown workers. The research underlines the significance of instituted heat protections, proven to lower injury rates on excessively hot days.