State bill would give workers safeguards during extreme temps

10-minute breaks, other protections during hot and freezing weather

Several dozen workers rallied alongside State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Latoya Joyner in lower Manhattan last week to support a bill introduced by the lawmakers that would protect workers in New York from extreme heat and cold. They were joined by organizers and workers from New Immigrant Community Empowerment, Teamsters Local Joint Council 16, The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union,  and the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. 

The legislation mandates that employers provide special accommodations for workers when the temperature rises above 80 degrees such as drinkable water, 10-minute breaks in a cool room every two hours and protective equipment like hats or sunscreen. In cold temperatures, employers would have to provide hats or gloves for employees that don’t have them and would need to give workers breaks in warm conditions.