Phoenix Passes Historic Ordinance Giving Outdoor Workers Protection From Extreme Heat

From EcoWatch

Summary:

• Phoenix, Arizona passed a historic ordinance to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat.
• The ordinance requires access to rest, water, shade, training on heat stress, and air conditioning in vehicles.
• Workers, especially people of color and low-income workers, are most impacted by extreme heat hazards.
• The ordinance will apply to approximately 10,000 city contract workers in Phoenix.
• Advocates emphasize the need for broader protections for all workers in the face of climate change.

Quotes:

• In a unanimous vote, the Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance requiring that workers have easy access to rest, potable water and shade, as well as training to recognize signs of heat stress…
  • Vehicles with enclosed cabs must also have access to air conditioning.
• In 2023, there were a record 31 consecutive days of 110-plus degree heat in Phoenix. The city had 340 deaths related to the extreme heat, with 645 in Maricopa County, according to the county health department. Three-quarters of the heat-related fatalities happened outdoors.

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Read the full post at EcoWatch.