AUSTIN, Texas — Tuesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) announced new regulations to protect workers from heat-related issues.
Triple-digit days are already becoming more regular in Austin, and they're having some serious effects.
"We've certainly seen an increase this summer. We start tracking heat-related illnesses about April of every year," Cpt. Christa Stedman, a spokesperson for Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS), said.
Stedman said ATCEMS is already seeing the uptick in heat-related illness calls. From April 1 to July 2 of this year, medics have already run 386 heat-related calls, compared to the same time period last year, when there had been 333.
"What's sort of note is 86 of those calls were last week. So 86 in one week. We're already almost at 400. It's just going to keep going up," Stedman said.
Those who often work outside see the most risk with this summer heat.
"I've had to organize one too many vigils and have had to go to too many funerals of construction workers and other workers that have died in the extreme heat," U.S. Rep. Greg Casar said.
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Casar has been fighting for breaks and other heat-related protections for over a decade now. Last year, he and dozens of Texas workers went on a nine-hour thirst strike on the U.S. Capitol stairs.
Now, a year later, OSHA has officially announced new federal protections coming into play for workers.
"This rule makes it so that when there's a heat index of 80 degrees, employers have to provide more water, have to provide more access to rest for their workers," Casar said.
The congressman said rule changes usually takes years to come about, but after seeing how many heat-related illnesses continue to happen, the federal government stepped in.
"Last year, Gov. Abbott signed what he called the 'Death Star Bill' into law, eliminating local worker protections, taking these rest break rules away from workers in places like Austin," Casar said.
He hopes a rule like this can push other lawmakers to hop on board and get these protections officially signed into law, to protect the some 35 million workers who spend their days outside.