Fighting for Heat Justice: Work on Occupational Heat Exposure
As temperatures soar across the globe, the country, and the Deep South, a priority for Sur Legal this summer has been workplace heat justice—advocating and educating workers and organizers on combating heat stress at work with heat trainings and templates in partnership with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH),the National Employment Law Project (NELP), and many others.
In July, the Biden-Harris administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a proposed rule to protect workers from extreme heat—after 50 years of tireless advocacy from worker rights advocates and occupational safety and health experts. A long overdue step in the right direction, this rule would help standardize protections against heat exposure at work that could lead to serious illness and death.
Did You Know? Between 2011 and 2021, dozens of workers died each year from heat-related causes, adding up to more than 400 workers during that period.
Sur Legal's Alessandra Stevens speaks at the Union of Southern Service Workers rally.
Thus far in 2024, Sur Legal has delivered two trainings on how to submit OSHA complaints for occupational heat exposure hazards—in coordination with National COSH, UCLA’s Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (UCLA LOSH), NELP, and Workshop—for over 400 people. Watch our training here.
We also worked with National COSH to create a ‘How-to’ guide for workers on submitting a heat stress complaint, including a template complaint. Download the guides here.
In June, we joined the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW) for a crucial moment in Southern heat justice history as workers exercised their rights to walk out and demand safety measures in response to extreme heat. These workers—striking for safety—are asking for basic measures that can save lives. Things like effective air conditioning and cooling equipment, and consistent and frequent breaks with free water.
What’s Next? Take Action!
Join Sur Legal and our national partners in our advocacy efforts to pressure the White House and OSHA to move their proposed heat standard into reality!
Without a regulation from OSHA requiring these measures, too many employers put profit over the well-being of their workers. We’re calling on the White House and OSHA to continue to move with urgency on this crucial safety issue. Workers have been promised heat protections for years, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.
The federal register is now open to receive comments from the public on OSHA’s proposed heat stress rule! Check out this guide we worked on with National COSH, Public Citizen, and NELP to help explain the rulemaking process and get you started with drafting your comment!
Share materials from Sur Legal like this Instagram post or our heat stress series to raise awareness, and be sure to use campaign hashtags: #FiredUp #HeatJustice #JusticiaDeCalor