The accident, which took place in Minas Gerais state, is the worst on Brazil's federal highways since 2007
world2 days ago
The administration of President Joe Biden took steps on Tuesday to protect workers and communities from the deadly effects of extreme heat including proposing the first-ever rule on the matter from the Department of Labour.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
On June 20, before the beginning of the US summer, nearly 100 million Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings. New York City opened emergency cooling centres, while New Mexico suffered deadly wildfires.
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a rule to protect workers, that if finalised, would be the first-ever US safety standard on the matter.
It includes requirements for identifying heat hazards, emergency response plans, training for supervisors, and work standards, including breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimatisation for new employees.
Farm worker groups had called on the administration to issue heat standards, as agricultural workers are often exposed to high temperatures and can have inconsistent access to shade, water, and breaks.
BY THE NUMBERS
OSHA projects the rule would impact approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.
Extreme weather, including extreme heat, also harms the economy. A White House fact sheet said a record 28 individual billion-dollar extreme weather and climate disasters in 2023 caused more than $90 billion in aggregate damage to the economy.
WHAT ELSE IS THE ADMINISTRATION DOING?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is announcing nearly $1 billion dollars in awards for nearly 660 projects to help communities protect against disasters and natural hazards, including extreme heat, storms, and flooding.
A White House fact sheet said Biden would receive a briefing on Tuesday on extreme weather forecasts for the summer. The White House will hold this summer a summit on extreme heat.
The accident, which took place in Minas Gerais state, is the worst on Brazil's federal highways since 2007
world2 days ago
The findings, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, have attracted both global attention and scepticism
world3 days ago
A driver rammed a car into a large crowd of revellers at a Christmas market in central Germany on Friday evening, killing at least two
world3 days ago
The British monarch and Queen Camilla visited Waltham Forest to celebrate community cohesion
world3 days ago
The fishermen were initially sentenced to six months, but their term was reduced to three months
world5 days ago
The navy said 99 people were rescued with efforts ongoing for others
world5 days ago
British police's lawyers said the Tates had not paid any tax on around 21 million pounds of revenue from online businesses between 2014 and 2022
world5 days ago
'There is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria,' says Pedersen
world6 days ago