In powerful public testimony today, Dr. David Wegman, senior scientist at La Isla Network (LIN) and Professor Emeritus at UMass Lowell, called for urgent improvements to OSHA’s proposed heat protection rule. Wegman emphasized that current standards fail to protect workers under real-world conditions.
LIN recognizes the importance of the heat standard, considering it a great first step in what should be a multi-phase effort to protect workers. Jason Glaser, CEO of LIN, said,
“What is needed in conjunction with a federal heat standard is occupational safety and health interventions that are driven by data, physiologically effective and economically viable, demonstrating from the outset that protecting workers isn’t a burden but a competitive advantage where productivity is likely to go up.”
LIN has demonstrated that heat stress protections are protective and profitable. They developed interventions abroad with promising results: 94% reduction in heat-related hospitalizations, 9–19% increase in productivity across job categories, and a 60% maximum return on investment with profitability achieved by the third year of the intervention. Now they are working to bring those results home.
LIN researchers have identified several limitations in the OSHA heat standard as it is written. “The heat index alone is not enough,” Wegman told OSHA. “Our research—some of it conducted right here in the U.S.—shows that metabolic load must be considered, and rest break schedules must match the intensity of labor.” Citing studies of 175 U.S. construction workers, Wegman revealed how core body temperature spikes with work effort more than with outdoor temperature alone.
Despite these limitations, LIN researchers believe that the OSHA rule could help lay the groundwork for a “broader, phased approach” that includes:
- Acesso à água, sombra, pausas obrigatórias para descanso, saneamento, educação sobre estresse por calor e planos de resposta a emergências de calor.
- “Diretrizes aprimoradas com medidas baseadas em dados”, incluindo o desenvolvimento de cronogramas de trabalho e descanso apropriados por meio do monitoramento consistente da produção de calor ambiental e metabólico (quando as células do seu corpo geram calor ao absorver oxigênio e liberar dióxido de carbono). Isso encorajaria diretrizes orientadas ao contexto que são informadas por pesquisas e podem ser ajustadas para locais de trabalho individuais.
- Foco na implementação de cronogramas de trabalho e descanso baseados em dados.
However, canceled research funding from the U.S. Department of Labor has left critical evidence in jeopardy. This research, funded by ILAB and canceled due to federal cuts, has led to life-saving interventions in Central America and informed recommendations for U.S. standards.
“When workers have structured rest, hydration, and shade, they don’t just survive—they produce more,” said Wegman. “This is a win-win for health and productivity.”
La Isla Network’s “Bring It Home” campaign draws direct lines between these findings and the need to apply them across the U.S. labor market.
La Isla Network é uma organização de pesquisa e consultoria em saúde dedicada a acabar com lesões, doenças e mortes relacionadas ao calor entre trabalhadores em todo o mundo. Desenvolvemos intervenções de proteção ao trabalhador baseadas em dados e conduzimos o gerenciamento de mudanças, melhorando a resiliência das forças de trabalho e empresas à exposição ao calor. A LIN impulsiona mudanças duradouras trabalhando com governos e instituições multilaterais para informar e criar políticas. Para obter mais informações, use nosso formulário de contato.
