Workers keep dying from heat. Data from inside their bodies shows why

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: New medical data reveals that nearly half of outdoor laborers in Florida regularly exceed core body temperatures of 100.4°F — despite that threshold being associated with risk of organ strain and long-term health damage
• Researchers, using ingestible sensors and wearable monitors, found that many workers reach dangerous heat levels during typical shifts, especially when breaks are limited or unpaid
• The findings highlight the physiological toll of heat exposure amid the absence of national workplace heat protections

🔭 The context: Heat kills dozens and injures thousands of U.S. workers annually, yet federal law does not mandate breaks or hydration during extreme temperatures
• Only seven states have enacted heat protections for workers
• A federal rule proposed under the Biden administration now faces uncertainty under the Trump administration, despite growing evidence that heat-related illness is undercounted and preventable through structured rest periods
• Activists and laborers are organizing for better conditions in sectors like agriculture and landscaping, where heat stress is pervasive and often ignored

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, workers in agriculture, construction, and outdoor maintenance face increasing health risks
• Without structural protections, rising temperatures threaten not just individual wellbeing but also labor productivity, food systems, and economic resilience
• The research underscores how climate justice must include protections for those most exposed — particularly low-income, immigrant, and undocumented workers

⏭️ What's next: A proposed federal rule would require 15-minute breaks every two hours when the heat index exceeds 90°F, but enforcement and political viability remain in question
• Worker-led initiatives like the "Planting Justice" campaign in Florida are pushing employers to offer rest, shade, and hydration voluntarily
• Consumer campaigns and boycotts targeting companies with unsafe conditions may emerge as pressure tactics
• Without federal action, local organizing and public scrutiny may become the main avenues for reform

💬 One quote: “We want shade, water, rest and medical protections. We’re fighting for the rights we deserve.” — Irma, a South Florida nursery worker

📈 One stat: During an average workday, 49% of outdoor laborers in a Florida study exceeded a core body temperature of 100.4°F — similar to a fever from infection — posing serious health risks

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