The national COSH Town Hall will be held on 5 September to discuss the risks of heat in the workplace

Public workers and officials will discuss OSHA’s proposed heating standard and potential solutions on September 5, 2024.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Sep 4, 2024

As extreme heat continues to pose a threat to workers across the United States, the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) is hosting a virtual meeting to address the issue.

The event, titled Fired Up! Town Hall: Workers Speak Out for Heat Justice, is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, at 3:00 p.m. ET. The discussion, available in English and Spanish, brings together frontline workers and key public officials to discuss the dangers of extreme heat in the workplace and explore potential solutions.

The discussion comes on the heels of OSHA’s publication of its proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention standard, which is now open for public comment. The proposed standard aims to establish nationwide safety safeguards against heat-related injuries and deaths in the workplace, a problem made even worse by the effects of climate change.

“Every day, workers suffer — and some lose their lives — due to the relentless threat of extreme heat,” Jessica E. Martinez, executive director of National COSH, said in a statement. “During our Fired Up! Town Hall, we will amplify the voices of those on the front lines demanding change and discuss public policy solutions that can dramatically reduce risk and save lives.”

The event will feature remarks from Assistant Secretary of Labor Doug Parker and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), sponsor of the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act. The town hall will also feature testimony from workers who have personally experienced the dangers of extreme heat.

For more information about the town hall meeting or to register to attend, visit the event website.