Heated policies: contrasting worker protections in California and Florida

California and Florida, both dealing with rising heat-related deaths, have adopted opposing approaches to worker heat protections, reflecting broader political divides.

Blanca Begert and Bruce Ritchie report for POLITICO.

In short:

• California mandates water and air-conditioned areas for workers in temperatures over 82°F, with additional measures at 87°F.
• Florida prohibits local governments from requiring employers to provide heat protections, leaving it to employers to decide.
• The federal OSHA proposed heat regulations, but they may not be finalized until 2026 and could face challenges.

Key quote:

“You can look at safety standards in each state, whether it’s heat standards or others, and it’ll track with how union-dense those states are.”

— Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation

Why this matters:

Heat-related deaths are climbing due to climate change, highlighting the need for robust worker protections. How should the U.S. balance economic freedoms with the imperative to safeguard public health in the face of a warming planet? As heat waves become more frequent and severe, this question will only grow more urgent, demanding thoughtful and decisive action from policymakers across the spectrum.