Record heat is dangerous for workers outside. Even so, Governor Abbott just signed a law preventing local communities from enacting laws for mandatory water breaks.
    • maynarkh@feddit.nl
      48·
      2 years ago

      According to the Texas Tribune:

      Supporters of the law have said it will eliminate a patchwork of local ordinances across the state that bog down businesses.

      They are sacrificing people on the altar of the economy again.

      • Radioaktvt@lemmy.oneEnglish
        20·
        2 years ago

        Can’t have pesky humans and their need for water get in the way of progress. If they can’t handle the heat just replace that one with another more hungry than the previous. /s

      • CmdrShepard@lemmy.one
        10·
        2 years ago

        Texas must be a failed state if taking water breaks when working outside on hot days is bogging down the economy.

    • Kwakigra@beehaw.org
      3·
      2 years ago

      Especially in Texas. We have one of the biggest and most authoritarian governments in the country whose power is heavily weighted to the executive branch. It is emblematic of the problems of “big government.”

  • Thebazilly@pathfinder.social
    19·
    2 years ago

    Doesn’t this violate OSHA? I’m doing HAZWOPER training right now at work and just covered the heat stress section. OSHA mandates that you have to give workers access to clean water, shade, and rest breaks.

    • withersailor@aussie.zoneOP
      8·
      2 years ago

      Idk. But someone has to first fight it in the courts. That’s time and money. Not something that most are going to be able to do.

      • tchotchony@mander.xyz
        1·
        2 years ago

        It’s not in effect yet, starting september. Now I know absolutely nothing about US law, but can’t OSHA itself fight this?

        • Pigeon@beehaw.org
          4·
          2 years ago

          OSHA is really, really, really underfunded, to the point most OSHA complaints go uninvestigated, iirc.

        • withersailor@aussie.zoneOP
          2·
          2 years ago

          That’s a thing about these laws. Fighting them isn’t as quick as passing them. I would hope it’s thrown out, but people will die in the meantime.

  • Melody Fwygon@lemmy.one
    11·
    2 years ago

    As a former texan; this shit doesn’t surprise me. Abbot has always been this kind of idiot; and there’s always been a huge culture of entitled business and company owners in general.