A report from the Florida Policy Institute reveals that over 5.7 million residents of Florida are at risk of suffering from intense heat. The institute urges state legislators to revoke a recent law that prevents local authorities from implementing measures to safeguard outdoor workers from high temperatures.
During the last four years, Florida has experienced the most frequent visits to the emergency room due to heat-related issues, resulting in nearly 5,000 hospital admissions between 2018 and 2022, as stated in the report. The health issues caused by high temperatures can vary from skin irritations to life-threatening heat strokes.
“In a press release on Tuesday, Sadaf Knight, CEO of the nonprofit organization, stated that susceptibility to intense heat coincides with other factors that influence quality of life, such as the availability of health care coverage, as highlighted in FPI’s most recent report.”
“When the safety and well-being of Florida workers are given top priority by state legislators, all individuals flourish.” However, the absence of basic workplace safeguards against heat-related illnesses, combined with Florida’s elevated rate of uninsured individuals, will lead to difficulties for an increasing amount of residents.
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The FPI collected information from government entities like the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Record-breaking temperatures are being confronted by close to 500,000 Floridians who are employed in outdoor professions such as construction and landscaping.
In the current month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has documented 14 shattered records, including a scorching temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit recorded in Plant City on July 8th.
Last year, Florida endured its most scorching summer ever recorded, and it seems likely that this year will surpass that scorching milestone. In the press release, Alexis Tsoukalas, the main writer of the report, mentioned that the country is at the forefront when it comes to illnesses caused by high temperatures.
At this moment, it is extremely important to demand that employers provide essential safeguards such as shade and breaks for water.
The report highlights the concerns expressed by numerous organizations that opposed bill HB 433 and shared them with Governor Ron DeSantis before he signed the bill in April.
In the face of criticism towards the proposed law, the Republicans who are promoting the bill maintained that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has authority over regulations regarding heat safety for employees working outdoors.
At the beginning of this month, the U.S. Department of Labor unveiled a suggested regulation mandating that employers assess the dangers of high temperatures and establish guidelines for hydration, breaks, and managing heat indoors.
