New York, NY —New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has released “Safeguarding Outdoor Workers in a Changing Climate,” a report that highlights the need for stronger protections for outdoor workers facing the growing risks of climate change, especially extreme heat.
“This summer was the hottest ever on earth, breaking last year’s record, and sadly next year will probably be hotter still—our outdoor workers are on the front lines of these increasingly dangerous conditions,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “With rising temperatures and worsening air quality, it’s essential for New York City to have stronger regulations in place to protect workers from the deadly risks of extreme heat.”
The report finds that 1.4 million workers, or a third of New York City’s workforce, work outdoors for prolonged periods of time. The report provides a thorough analysis of the occupational health impacts associated with extreme weather for workers in sectors like construction, transportation, and street vending. These workers are disproportionately composed of non-citizen immigrants and Hispanic/Latino or Black individuals. Additionally, the report finds that the more outdoor exposure a job entails, the lower the wages, with an annual income decrease of $700 for every one percent increase in outdoor worker concentration.
“New Yorkers could see a six-fold increase in days with a heat index above 95°F by the end of this decade,” said Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in New York City. This is more than an uncomfortable inconvenience—it’s deadly. As New York City faces more heat waves and air quality emergencies, the City must ensure safe labor conditions for outdoor workers who face the brunt of climate impacts.”
To address the growing threats of climate change thoroughly and sustainably, the report divides its recommendations into proposed employer requirements and public health initiatives. The proposed employer requirements build on existing proposed state legislation, such as the Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program (TEMP) Act, which is designed to protect workers in industries with high exposure to extreme temperatures by mandating essential safety measures. Additionally, the recommendations build on legislative actions aimed at significantly improving protections for outdoor workers across New York City.
“Workplace health and safety is a top priority for the RWDSU, especially for our members that work in extreme temperatures,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). “As the union that represents warehouse, distribution and other workers who work in extreme weather and temperature environments in New York, we know how much this can take a toll on worker health. Workers deserve regular breaks to warm up or cool down as well as access to a warm or cool indoor locations during those breaks depending on the season. That is why we support the TEMP Bill and applaud the effort to expand the outdoor heat standards to all workers in NYC as well as setting labor standards for working in unsafe air quality as our members experienced due to the Canadian wildfires in 2023.”
