The Daily – Lives, Livelihoods, and the High Cost of Heat

Intro

This episode of “The Daily” explores the economic cost of extreme heat and its impact on workers. As this summer’s heat wave takes a devastating toll, it has become crucial to put a tangible price tag on climate change for Americans to understand the urgency of the situation. The podcast delves into the effects of extreme heat on outdoor workers, the economic losses incurred, and the need for federal regulations to protect workers from heat exposure.

Main Takeaways

The Economic Toll of Extreme Heat

• This summer’s heat wave has taken a devastating toll and put this year on track to be the hottest ever recorded.
• Extreme heat causes decreased worker productivity, lost work hours, and lost pay.
• Putting a price tag on climate change makes it tangible and specific for Americans.
• New economic data shows that extreme heat lowers outdoor worker productivity and affects the indoor economy more than previously understood.
• The US is losing about two and a half billion hours of work per year due to heat, translating to about a hundred billion dollars of economic loss per year, projected to go up to about five hundred billion dollars a year by the middle of the century.

The Impact on Outdoor Workers

• Outdoor workers, such as mailmen, construction workers, and farm workers, are the most affected by extreme heat.
• Workers’ productivity drops 25% when working in 90-degree heat, and 70% when exposed to heat over 100 degrees.
• Workers who are exposed to heat get exhausted, sick, and need more breaks and time off, leading to less work done and more mistakes.
• Workers in meatpacking plants are at risk of food contamination due to heat exposure causing goggles to fog up and vision impairment.
• Many factories and industrial facilities in the US are not air-conditioned, making it difficult for workers to work in extreme heat.

The Need for Federal Regulations

• There are no federal regulations in the US that protect workers from heat exposure.
• The Biden administration has directed OSHA to begin the process of crafting new federal regulations on heat and worker exposure.
• The process of creating national workplace safety regulations can take up to 10 years.
• The expected standard for new heat regulations includes breaks, water, and air conditioning for workers exposed to certain temperatures.
• Employers will face significant costs to protect workers from heat exposure, but the alternative could be workers dying.

The Health Risks of Heat Exposure

• Heat is the number one cause of death due to extreme weather events.
• The body has two main ways to cool down: sweat and increased blood flow.
• Extreme heat and humidity can cause these cooling mechanisms to fail.
• Heat stroke can occur when the body’s mechanisms to prevent overheating fail, and the internal temperature continues to rise.
• Heat stroke can cause multi-organ failure, including the heart, kidneys, gut, and brain.

Summary

The Economic Toll of Extreme Heat

This summer’s heat wave has had a devastating impact, making it on track to be the hottest year ever recorded. The economic cost of extreme heat is a new focus for climate change coverage, as it causes decreased worker productivity, lost work hours, and lost pay. New economic data reveals that extreme heat lowers outdoor worker productivity and affects the indoor economy more than previously understood. The US is projected to lose about five hundred billion dollars a year by the middle of the century due to heat-related economic losses.

The Impact on Outdoor Workers

Outdoor workers, such as mailmen, construction workers, and farm workers, bear the brunt of extreme heat. Their productivity drops significantly when exposed to high temperatures, leading to exhaustion, sickness, and the need for more breaks and time off. Workers in meatpacking plants are at risk of food contamination due to impaired vision caused by heat exposure. Moreover, many factories and industrial facilities in the US lack air conditioning, making it challenging for workers to cope with extreme heat.

The Need for Federal Regulations

Surprisingly, there are currently no federal regulations in the US that protect workers from heat exposure. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Biden administration has directed OSHA to begin the process of crafting new federal regulations on heat and worker exposure. However, creating national workplace safety regulations can be a lengthy process, taking up to 10 years. The expected standard for new heat regulations includes breaks, water, and air conditioning for workers exposed to certain temperatures. While employers will face significant costs to implement these measures, the alternative could be workers dying.

The Health Risks of Heat Exposure

Heat exposure poses severe health risks, with heat being the leading cause of death due to extreme weather events. The human body relies on sweat and increased blood flow to cool down, but extreme heat and humidity can disrupt these cooling mechanisms. This can lead to heat stroke, where the body’s ability to regulate temperature fails, resulting in multi-organ failure. Heat stroke affects the heart, kidneys, gut, and brain, and can be life-threatening. It is crucial for employers to protect workers from heat exposure to prevent serious health risks and potential fatalities.

Conclusion

The economic and health costs of extreme heat are substantial, with workers bearing the brunt of its impact. As the hottest year ever recorded looms, it is essential to implement federal regulations that protect workers from heat exposure. Employers must invest in measures such as breaks, water, and air conditioning to prevent significant economic losses and potential fatalities. Additionally, individuals must respect the heat and adapt their behaviors and lifestyles to stay safe, especially vulnerable populations like the elderly. Only through collective efforts can we mitigate the devastating consequences of extreme heat.