Alright, so here’s the deal – farm workers in southern New Mexico are out there before the crack of dawn, battling the scorching heat waves to pick chile peppers. Then you’ve got oilfield workers, decked out in heavy gear, driving to far-flung drilling sites in the state’s Permian Basin. And let’s not forget about the teachers struggling in classrooms with busted air conditioning. Tough times, folks.
Now, New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau is stepping up to the plate to protect these hardworking individuals as the state heats up. They’ve introduced a new heat protection rule this spring, aiming to make a difference. The bureau, part of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), is all ears for comments on the proposed rule at outreach events happening this week. The state’s environmental improvement board will have a public hearing on the rule in July, and if all goes well, it’ll kick in by August.
While the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tried to push a similar rule under the Biden administration, things are kinda up in the air during the Trump presidency. New Mexico could be the eighth state to implement standards for extreme heat worker protection, following in the footsteps of states like California and Oregon. The heat is rising, and advocates are saying it’s high time for New Mexico to step up.
Shelley Mann-Lev, the big cheese at Healthy Climate New Mexico, is all in for the new rule. She’s like, “Our workers need protection pronto, we can’t be dilly-dallying another summer.” Mann-Lev is thrilled that NMED is rolling out a rule based on solid science – no funny business here. But hold up, ’cause not everyone is on board with this. The construction and restaurant industries, along with some state Republican lawmakers, are raising eyebrows at the proposed rule. They’re worried it’s gonna put a damper on business in New Mexico.
The heat is on in New Mexico, no doubt about it. With rising temperatures, wildfires, and droughts becoming the norm, it’s time to take action. Las Cruces saw its hottest summer in 2024, with temperatures shooting up 5.4 degrees since 1970 – that’s no joke. The state is warming up at lightning speed, and the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau isn’t messing around. They’ve been flooded with heat-related complaints and are seeing more workers ending up in the ER due to heat exposure. Time to get serious about protecting these folks.
The proposed rule covers both indoor and outdoor workers, kicking in when the heat index hits 80 degrees. Employers will need to whip up a plan to prevent heat illnesses and injuries, and workers moving to hotter areas will have to ease into the heat. Shade structures, cool water, and mandatory breaks once it hits 95 degrees are all on the menu. Sure, it might cost companies a chunk of change to comply, but hey, it could save them some dough in the long run.
As the comments keep rolling in on the proposed rule, it’s clear that folks are divided. Teachers are all for it, citing past experiences with sweltering classrooms. Union prez James Cobb is backing the rule, worried about workers facing dangerous temperatures. But the restaurant industry isn’t feeling it, saying it’ll throw a wrench in their operations. Tough decisions ahead for New Mexico, but with temperatures climbing, it’s time to take action. Let’s see how this all pans out in the end.
