Rules of Thumb in the United States
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed regulations to protect workers against heat. Starting at 26.7 °C, employers must give them drinking water, breaks and access to shade. Once the temperature hits 32.2 °C, they must grant 15-minute breaks every two hours, provide training and monitor how workers are feeling. These measures, if adopted, would lead to consistent minimum standards across the country, building on the stricter rules already in place in many States.
Recommendations for Extreme Heat in Quebec
For many employers, it can be quite puzzling to determine the required break time for employees working in extreme heat as per Quebec recommendations. They often realize they need to take various technical parameters into account—namely corrected air temperature (French only), workload or relative humidity calculations. This makes it difficult for employers to know whether they are following the best practices. Consequently, workers are put at risk.
A Call to Action Based on Predictions
According to a study by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, the daily number of heat illness claims will rise by 73% to 113% by 2050 under an optimistic greenhouse gas emissions scenario, and by 110% to 165% under a pessimistic scenario. It’s therefore crucial to clarify regulations and establish clear heat thresholds to protect farm workers. This begs the question: Is existing legislation enough to address the challenge?