The scorching summer months have ignited a fiery debate over workplace safety as delivery drivers grapple with the relentless grip of extreme heat. Inside the sweltering truck cabins, temperatures often soar beyond a staggering 120°F, transforming these vehicles into virtual ovens on wheels, especially for those lacking the sanctuary of air conditioning.
President Donald Trump’s recent nomination of David Keeling, a former executive at logistics giants UPS and Amazon, to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has raised concerns among labor advocates and delivery drivers. Both companies have faced numerous OSHA citations for worker injuries and deaths related to heat exposure during Keeling’s tenure, casting doubts over his commitment to implement robust workplace heat safety regulations.
A Smoldering Debate Over Worker Protections
Under the Biden administration, OSHA had advanced a draft rule mandating access to water, shade, breaks, and training – measures estimated to protect a staggering 36 million workers. However, with Keeling’s nomination, these long-awaited protections now hang in the balance, leaving many vulnerable workers exposed to the intensifying threats of climate-driven heat waves.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by the experiences of workers like Seth Pacic, a UPS driver and union steward in Dallas, who suffered heat exhaustion on the job. Pacic fears that “any meaningful policy to combat heat injuries will be put on hold while [Keeling] holds the position,” highlighting the potential regression of worker safety standards.
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While UPS committed under a 2023 Teamsters contract to add air conditioning to new delivery vehicles, only about 10% of the required air-conditioned trucks have been delivered so far, leaving many drivers still vulnerable to the scorching conditions.
A Call for Binding Federal Standards
As corporate lobbying against heat safety regulations persists, worker health advocates warn that without binding federal standards, millions of vulnerable workers may continue facing dangerous conditions as climate change exacerbates the frequency and intensity of heat waves. The stakes are high, and the path forward remains contentious, leaving delivery drivers and advocates alike to grapple with the potential consequences of a regulatory void in this sweltering era of climate change.
