SPOKANE, Wash. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging outdoor workers to remain hydrated and take frequent breaks during the heatwave.
As the climate crisis , FEMA is advising outdoor workers to maintain healthy levels of sodium and electrolytes, dress lightly and remain vigilant against heat-related illnesses.
Workers in Washington are legally entitled to take extra cool down rest periods of at least ten minutes every two hours when temperatures are over 90 degrees according to the WA Department of Labor and Industries.
There are no such regulations in Idaho or Montana, although the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that workers be shielded from “heat hazards.”
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2-degree increase in global average surface temperature since industrialization in the mid-1850s has caused more dramatic changes in weather.
“That extra heat is driving regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reducing snow cover and sea ice, intensifying heavy rainfall, and changing habitat ranges for plants and animals,” NOAA said.
While temperatures rise, businesses and workers are adjusting to a new environmental reality for outdoor labor.
