A heat advisory is now in effect as the summer temperatures settle over West Texas, with a projected heat index reaching 104 to 105 degrees.
Forecasters warn that temperatures will continue to climb higher toward the final weekend of June and are urging residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., as there is a greater risk of heat-related illness occurring during those hours.
These high temperatures have renewed concern over heat safety regulations for Texas workers, especially for landscapers, construction workers, farm hands and other employees who work outside during the day.
Currently, heat safety regulations are left up to employers to implement under House Bill 2127, also referred to as the “Death Star Bill.”
Authored by State Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock after several communities in Texas tried to regulate heat exposure in the workplace, the bill sought to end “the current hodgepodge of enormous and burdensome regulations.”
Sharon Block, a National Labor Relations Board member and the executive director for the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School, believes that HB 2127 is standing in the way of proper regulations needed to keep workers safe in hot environments.
These include consistent access to water, frequent breaks and areas to cool off. Dr. Ronda McCarthy, an occupational health specialist and medical director, notes that “there’s much more than just the ambient temperature” to consider when talking about heat exposure regulations.
“You have to think of so many factors like what these workers are wearing - their hard hats, protective clothing, respirators - or whether they’re in direct heat or if they get shade.”
She adds that without rest-break rules, workers might be afraid of losing their jobs if they were to speak up about needing “a respite from the heat.”
However, there are still steps individual workers can take despite there being no federal or state regulations to prevent heat-related illnesses.
These include drinking plenty of water, wearing lighter-weight or lightcolored fabrics, getting in the shade or air conditioning whenever possible, eating healthy and checking up on coworkers, especially those who are older or have health issues.
For information on heatrelated illnesses, visit www.weather.gov/safety/ heat-illness.