Biden administration proposes rule for workplaces to address excessive heat

President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event in Atlanta, GA, on March 9, 2024. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

The Biden administration proposed a new rule Tuesday to address excessive heat in the workplace, as tens of millions of people in the U.S. are under heat advisories due to blistering temperatures.

If finalized, the measure would protect an estimated 36 million U.S. workers from injuries related to heat exposure on the job — establishing the first major federal safety standard of its kind. Those affected by excessive heat in the workplace include farmworkers, delivery and construction workers, landscapers and indoor workers in warehouses, factories and kitchens.

President Joe Biden planned to highlight the rule on Tuesday in remarks after getting a briefing on extreme weather at the DC Emergency Operations Center.