Protecting Workers from Extreme Heat
The threat of heat stress is growing each year, highlighting the need for commonsense protections for all workers.
According to Keenan Bell, temperatures in parts of the Bridgestone tire plant in Des Moines, Iowa, can reach 110 or 115 degrees during summer months due to steel-plate floors that "absorb heat and radiate it to no end."
The steel-plate floors "absorb heat and radiate it to no end."
USW Local 310L representatives, including Bell, monitor the temperature to protect the plant's 530 union workers from the sweltering conditions and other hazards.
Author's summary: Protecting workers from extreme heat is crucial.
- Heat stress is a growing threat to workers.
- Commonsense protections are needed for all workers.
- Temperature monitoring is essential in high-risk workplaces.