Fact Sheet
On July 2, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed standard to better protect workers from the health risks of extreme heat. If finalized, this rule could protect approximately 36 million people working in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Key components of the rule include requiring employers to evaluate heat risks and implement water and rest breaks, monitor indoor and outdoor temperatures, and develop plans to protect new or returning workers unaccustomed to high heat.
Learn more about the proposed standard in this fact sheet from the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health.
Organizational Sign-On Letter
On January 15, the Consortium and 86 other health organizations sent a letter to OSHA asking it to finalize and implement the proposed heat standard quickly to save lives and protect the communities we serve.
Webinar & Additional Resources
In this webinar, our expert panel addresses how extreme heat impacts health and our healthcare system, explores the burden on the communities most at risk, and discusses the recently released OSHA heat standards. We also share advocacy opportunities and resources for health organizations and individual health professionals to engage in this important work.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Nicole Duritz – Director of Programs, Outreach and Strategy, The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health
- William “Brett” Perkison, MD, MPH – Assistant Professor, The University of Texas School of Public Health
- Ruth McDermott-Levy, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN – Professor and Co-Director, Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Environmental Health and the Environment
- Juanita Constible – Senior Advocate, Environmental Health, Natural Resources Defense Council