Affect Nearly Half a Million Workers
Exposed to High Temperatures, Study Reveals
Nearly half a million workers in the state of Florida (U.S.) who work outdoors are exposed to high temperatures, according to a study by the Florida Policy Institute (FPI), which argued that workers must have state laws to protect them.
- Affect Nearly Half a Million WorkersExposed to High Temperatures, Study Reveals
- The Report ‘High Heat, Greater Responsibility:
- Florida Ranks Third Among the Hottest States in the U.S. and Between July and August 2023 Had the Highest Temperatures Ever Recorded.
- Heat-Related Illnesses on the Rise
- Florida Could Exceed Last Summer’s Excessive Temperatures After Recording a June Average Temperature 2 Degrees Higher Than the Same Period in 2023.
The Report ‘High Heat, Greater Responsibility:
The Sunshine State Must Enact Policies to Protect Florida’s Workers.’
The study reveals that excessive heat is an imminent threat to the nearly half a million Floridians who work as landscapers, amusement park staff, construction laborers, or agricultural workers.
The FPI’s recommendation clashes with a Florida law that prohibits requiring employers to provide breaks for workers exposed to the sun.
On April 12, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the controversial HB-433 law, which prevents employers from being required to provide outdoor workers with basic protections such as shade, accessible water, and rest breaks from heat and humidity.
Florida Ranks Third Among the Hottest States in the U.S. and Between July and August 2023 Had the Highest Temperatures Ever Recorded.
An estimated 490,710 Floridians work in the three main industries that primarily operate outdoors: construction, entertainment and recreation, and landscaping.
A total of 5.7 million Floridians (26.2%) are highly vulnerable to extreme heat, and in 20 counties, more than a third of residents are, according to the FPI analysis based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Florida has the highest rates of heat-related illnesses in the United States, and the most recent data shows 31,011 emergency room visits and hospitalizations between 2018 and 2022,” the FPI warned. Therefore, “state-level policy intervention is paramount,” it added.
To protect Florida’s workers, the state “must raise awareness about heat-related illnesses, stop favoring local ordinances on heat exposure, and pass a state law covering all outdoor workers,” the 19-page report states.
The FPI noted that 2023 was the fifth hottest year in the U.S. and the third hottest in Florida (since 1895). “Worse still, every month in 2023, the state experienced above-average temperatures,” it warned.
Heat-Related Illnesses on the Rise
Florida’s major cities experienced record summer temperatures that year, exceeding the average in July (85.7 degrees Fahrenheit or 29.8 degrees Celsius) and August by one degree.
In this context, even a one-degree temperature increase can have serious impacts.
In Florida, “a one-degree increase can affect crops, make the state more prone to more frequent storms and extreme heat, and lead to greater sea-level rise and coastal erosion,” the report highlights.
Additionally, when the heat index exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, “the chances of suffering heat cramps, exhaustion, and even strokes increase.”
Florida Could Exceed Last Summer’s Excessive Temperatures After Recording a June Average Temperature 2 Degrees Higher Than the Same Period in 2023.
Last April, environmental, religious, and progressive groups sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to veto the aforementioned legislation.
In the letter, they noted that extreme heat is already one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths and workplace injuries nationwide, and highlighted that “between 2019 and 2022, heat-related deaths increased by 88% in Florida.”
If you are concerned about your risk of exposure to high temperatures, speak with your doctor, who can help you assess your risk and recommend strategies to reduce it.
No information should replace consultation with a doctor or other healthcare professional who can advise you based on your specific situation. If you do not have health insurance and need to see a healthcare specialist, you can visit the office of
Dr. Carlos Arguello in Port St. Lucie – 772-337-3334
1803 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Image: DC
