Dealing with extreme heat

Axios - As extreme heat makes afternoons more dangerous, schools, sports teams and outdoor employers are shifting when — and sometimes whether — people can safely be outside.  Adapting to hotter conditions could reshape the American workday while putting a premium on the cooling and energy infrastructure people rely on when outdoor conditions become unsafe.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that employers facing dangerous heat consider moving work to early morning or late afternoon, shortening shifts, rotating workers and reducing strenuous work during the hottest parts of the day.

• California's new Extreme Heat Action Plan links protecting heat-vulnerable groups, including workers, with expanding access to indoor cooling and strengthening energy systems to reduce grid strain and outages.
• Oregon's statewide heat-illness prevention rule kicks in when the heat index reaches 80°F, requiring water, shade and acclimatization, with additional measures such as preventive cooldown rest breaks at 90°F, Oregon OSHA told Axios.

Oregon OSHA conducted 3,104 inspections addressing heat and issued 408 citations totaling $652,640 in initial penalties from 2022 to 2025, according to data shared with Axios.

….The bottom line: Shifting the clock can buy people relief from extreme heat — but as the number of dangerously hot hours grows, there may be fewer safe hours to shift into.  Full story