What are my rights when working in extreme heat in Georgia? Here’s what the law says
Georgia summers seem to be increasingly hotter every year with temperatures topping out in the high 90s. When you take into account the heat index, some days feel like temperatures are in triple digits.
Staying indoors where the air is cool seems like the only option for these days. But for employees who have to endure hot working conditions outside, AC is just a fever dream.
So, when is it too hot to work outside? Are there laws in Georgia to protect employees or at least provide them with enough breaks and water? Here’s what to know.
Are there Georgia laws protecting employees who work in extreme heat?
In Georgia, there are no state laws that address working in extreme heat. This includes protections for employees and workplace standards. However, there are federal rules and regulations that require employers to have plans in place for these working conditions.
Federal rules and regulations cover workers’ rights when working in extreme heat.
Although there aren’t any Georgia laws protecting employees who work in extreme heat, there are several federal rules that address the issue.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), “employers are required to provide their employees with a place of employment that ‘is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees.’” This standard is vague, but it does include extreme heat conditions while working.
OSHA’s 2016 publication of “Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments,” lists a number of recommendations for employers in order to “greatly reduce the risk of adverse health effects to exposed workers,” such as injury or illness due to heat.
Although OSHA gives employers several recommendations like providing personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary and medical monitoring for employees, there is still no law specifically addressing heat exposure when working outside.
But there are talks of a new rule in the works that would further protect employees.
The U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule that would require employers to provide drinking water and rest breaks when the outside temperature reaches 80 degrees. And when the temperature reaches 90 degrees, employers would be required to provide 15-minute paid breaks every two hours with monitoring for workers.
If you feel your working environment is unsafe, here’s what you can do:
You can report unsafe working conditions to OSHA without fear of retaliation because it is illegal for employers to fire employees for raising safety concerns.
If you suffer from heat-related injury or illness, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation.
Do you have more questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
