Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) introduced bicameral legislation to implement federal workplace heat stress protections. This introduction comes on the heels of an announcement that there have already been 29 heat-related deaths in Southern Nevada this year.
The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act would protect the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat. The bill would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish enforceable federal standards to protect workers in high-heat environments with commonsense measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response protocols for workers with heat-related illness. The bill also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on how to respond to symptoms.
“From farmhands to construction workers, America’s essential workforce is doing important work while under extreme heat conditions,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Temperatures continue to reach record highs in Nevada and across the United States. We must act now to protect our communities’ vital workers.”
From 2011-2020, heat exposure killed at least 400 American workers and caused nearly 34,000 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work. Nevada is home to the two fastest-warming cities in the country: Reno and Las Vegas. While farm and construction workers suffer the highest incidence of heat illness, workers in factories, commercial kitchens, and other workplaces can face dangerously high heat conditions all year round. In 2021, Cortez Masto successfully pushed the Biden administration to begin developing federal heat standards to help protect workers and communities from the extreme heat, and this bill is an important step to strengthen and codify those protections into law.
The bill is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia, who died in 2004 after picking grapes for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious, but instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia’s son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53.
The proud daughter of a Teamster, Senator Cortez Masto grew up in organized labor and has always fought for Nevada’s working families. In March, she joined legislation to protect workers’ right to collectively bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Last year, she joined the Culinary Union in their strike to secure a fair contract with Virgin Hotels. She has also been a strong supporter of increased funding for the National Labor Relations Board to help fight for workers’ rights to collectively bargain.
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