A June heat wave affected millions of people from Texas and New Mexico to Florida to the northeastern United States. An area of high pressure over the Midwest formed a heat dome, resulting in record temperatures and little precipitation. The economic costs of excessive heat include lower agricultural yields, decline in productivity, increased morbidity and mortality, and increased utility consumption for cooling. The US economy is estimated to lose $110.2 billion in real GDP and 663,000 jobs compared to projections under normal weather conditions if the current temperature pattern continues through the year. Over time, sustained hotter temperatures could lead to annual real GDP losses of up to $1.1 trillion and more than five million jobs by 2050. Heat waves and other extreme weather events cause economic disruptions and inhibit growth. Negative effects compound over time. Stay safe and cool! [70845844]
Extreme heat involves substantial economic costs. The United States has been about 2.39 degrees above the twentieth-century global standard in the past 12 months. If that pattern continues, the U.S. economy will lose an estimated $110.2 billion in real gross product and 663,000 jobs compared to projections under normal weather conditions. By 2050, losses could rise to $1.1 trillion in real gross product and more than five million jobs. Negative effects compound over time, leading to more damage to the economy [4f0a5746].
Extreme heat events are becoming more common, with a 61% chance of 2024 being the hottest year on record. Heat stress is a serious health risk for the approximately 32 million outdoor workers in the U.S., as well as those who work in warehouses and similar settings. Last year, 2,300 people died from the effects of heat, and there were nearly 120,000 emergency room visits due to heat stress. Extreme heat also impacts productivity, with more than 2.5 billion hours of outdoor labor lost to heat exposure in 2021, potentially costing the U.S. economy up to $100 billion. Businesses can use weather data technology to develop and implement heat risk management strategies, including training programs and safety protocols. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends using a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) monitor to measure workplace environmental heat. Integrating weather insights into a company's safety management can help leaders make more informed decisions based on real-time and forecast information. With no immediate end in sight for high temperatures across the country, it is important for businesses to take steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their workforce [ff6d085c].
The state of Florida has passed a new law that prevents local governments from enacting heat regulations and protections. The law comes as the United States grapples with record-breaking temperatures [3bed7de1]. Miami-Dade County had planned to implement its own ordinance requiring employers in agriculture and construction to provide water, rest, and shade to outdoor workers, but the state preemption law halted its implementation. Last year, the county experienced an unprecedented 42 days with a heat index of 105 degrees or higher. Worker rights organizations argue that workers in South Florida have died due to extreme heat, and farm workers are 35 times more likely to die from it. However, the agriculture and construction industries have pushed back on these mandates, claiming that existing federal regulations are sufficient. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently reviewing proposed rules for protecting workers from extreme heat [3bed7de1].
President Biden is announcing new actions to protect workers and families from the impacts of extreme weather. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a rule to establish the nation's first-ever federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace [bd2832f3]. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency is announcing nearly $1 billion in awards for 656 projects to help communities protect against disasters and natural hazards. The Environmental Protection Agency is releasing a new report showing the impacts of climate change on the United States. President Biden will bring together state, local, Tribal, and Territorial leaders for a White House Summit on Extreme Heat later this summer. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken numerous actions to bolster preparedness and resilience nationwide [bd2832f3].
President Joe Biden’s administration is unveiling its plan for imposing the first-ever federal standards to protect US workers from heat stress. The Labor Department proposal, being released Tuesday, would cover an estimated 36 million workers and require more breaks, shade, and drinking water for workers in high-temperature environments. The plan would trigger requirements when workers are exposed to a heat index of 80F (27C) or higher. The proposed regulation also includes measures such as acclimatization plans for new employees, heat injury and illness prevention plans, and increased monitoring of heat exposure. The proposal will undergo public comment and further agency review before being finalized. Some worker advocates argue that a more comprehensive approach is needed to address extreme heat. The initiative's future is uncertain if Donald Trump wins a second term. Separately, Biden is set to receive an operational briefing on extreme weather and announce technical assistance for communities to reduce their risk from disasters [704b220c].
A recent NASA map showcases the extreme temperatures that pavement can reach in Phoenix, Arizona, during intense heat waves. Some sidewalks and roads in Phoenix were found to reach temperatures capable of causing second-degree burns on contact. The map was created using NASA's ECOSTRESS instrument, which measures heat radiation emitted by Earth's land. The visualization depicts asphalt and concrete surfaces colored by temperature, with surfaces reaching at least 120°F/49°C. Areas with limited parks and trees experienced the highest surface temperatures, while neighborhoods with trees benefited from a cooling effect. The hottest land surface temperature within Phoenix was recorded at Sky Harbor International Airport, reaching 140°F (60°C). Climate change is exacerbating the hot pavement problem, with asphalt absorbing 95% of the sun's radiation. The Biden administration has proposed a new regulation to protect workers from excessive heat. Last summer, Phoenix experienced a brutal heatwave, coinciding with a surge in heat-related burn cases. The regulation, if approved, could be a major step towards ensuring public safety during hot summer months [d2ad41d4].
NASA's ECOSTRESS instrument recorded scorching temperatures on Phoenix streets and sidewalks. The thermal radiometer on the International Space Station captured surface temperatures in central Phoenix on June 19, 2024. The map shows asphalt temperatures between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Surface temperatures that hot can cause severe contact burns within minutes or seconds. The Arizona Burn Center has seen a rise in these types of injuries, with an average hospital stay of 12 days and a 10% fatality rate. The map also shows that areas with more vegetation, like Encanto Park, were cooler than areas with less green space, such as Maryvale and the area surrounding Sky Harbor Airport. Phoenix is experiencing a dangerous heat wave, with around 134 million people in the U.S. under heat alerts. The Phoenix team is providing IV hydration to combat heat deaths. Firefighters warn about hiking in extreme heat after a 10-year-old boy died in Phoenix. Journalist Jeff Goodell discusses the dangers of extreme heat in his book. President Joe Biden is proposing new federal standards to protect workers from extreme heat. The article was written by Katherine Davis-Young, a senior field correspondent for KJZZ. [def18adc]
President Joe Biden has proposed a new rule to protect an estimated 36 million U.S. workers from injuries related to heat exposure on the job. The rule would establish the first major federal safety standard of its kind and would apply to workers in various industries, including farmworkers, delivery and construction workers, landscapers, and indoor workers in warehouses, factories, and kitchens. Biden highlighted the proposed rule as one of five steps his administration is taking to address extreme weather. He emphasized that high temperatures are the country's leading weather-related killer and that more people die from extreme heat than from floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. The proposed rule would require employers to identify heat hazards, develop emergency response plans, provide training on heat illness, establish rest breaks, provide shade and water, and implement heat acclimatization for new workers. Penalties for heat-related violations in workplaces would increase significantly. The AFL-CIO union federation praised the measure, while heat protection laws in the U.S. have faced opposition from industry groups. The Biden administration's rule, if finalized, would override state standards and require states with existing procedures to adopt measures at least as stringent as the federal rule. [880dc3eb]