Texas To Summer Construction Workers: Drop Dead

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation that 
prevents cities in Texas from mandating water
breaks for construction workers toiling in
the state's excessive heat. 

 Politics and politicians in Texas tend to be awful, to put it mildly. 

One of millions of examples came to light this week. 

Apparently, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and a majority of the state's legislature do not care if construction workers die of heat stroke. 

The rule that Abbott signed into law eliminates local ordinances that mandate 10-minute water breaks every four hours for construction workers in hot weather. 

According to the Texas Tribune:

"The law's scope is broad but ordinances that establish breaks in the workplace are one of the explicit targets. The law will nullify ordinances enacted by Austin in 2010 and Dallas in 2015 that establish 10-minute breaks every four hours so that construction workers can drink water and protect themselves from tree sun. It also prevents other cities from passing such rules in the future. San Antonio has been considering a similar ordinance."

Abbott and others justify this by saying that a hodgepodge of local laws and ordinances is a burden on businesses. Which is actually probably true. 

So instead of getting rid of the ordinances, why not establish a blanket statewide law mandating these water breaks?

I guess because the Texas "elite" regards construction workers as just cattle and machines, and who cares if some of them drop dead in the heat? Just replace 'em.  Bonus: The replacement can be paid a lower wage than the lazy bum who had gall to die on a 110 degree afternoon. 

No regard for human life here. Which is ironic given Texas Republicans' obsession with abortion bans. 

Democrats in the Texas legislature did file bills that would create a statewide rule mandating water breaks, but those filings went nowhere in the Republican controlled Texas Statehouse. 

Summertime in Texas makes a Vermont heat wave look like a lovely February ski vacation. Temperatures routinely top 100 degrees in the summer. Humidity drives heat indices into the 110s or higher. Absolutely brutal and dangerous conditions for outdoor workers. 

As Texas Tribune points out:

"Texas is the state where the most workers die from high temperatures, government data shows. At least 42 workers died in Texas between 2011 and 2021 from environmental heat exposure, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Workers' unions claim this data doesn't fully reflect the magnitude of the problem because heat-related deaths are often recorded under a different primary cause of injury."

The new rule signed by Abbott and pushed by Texas Republicans will probably cause more construction industry deaths in Texas.  

"'Construction is a deadly industry. Whatever the minimum protection is, it can save a life. We are talking about a human life,' said Ana Gonzalez, deputy director of policy and politics at the Texas AFL-CIO. 'We will see more deaths, especially in Texas' high temperatures.'" reports the Texas Tribune. 

Given that the majority of Texas construction workers are Hispanic, I also whiff some racism in this deadly new law. 

The elimination of the local water break rules doesn't take effect until September 1, but even the timing of Abbott's signature seems cruel.

He signed the bill as most of Texas is enduring record breaking high temperatures and in many places, oppressive humidity. The heat index in one south Texas town the other day was 135 degrees.

 I wonder how Texas Republicans would do laying asphalt or installing roofs during the excessive heat warnings that are now in place across much of Texas, including the big cities of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

Even that 10-minute water break once every four hours seems woefully inadequate. OSHA does not have heat stress standards for workers, according to the CDC.

However, some states do. 

The CDC recommends employers ensure workers take breaks in the shade and drink plenty of water.  They should schedule hotter jobs during cooler periods of the day, or postpone such work until after a cold front has passed. Construction companies should also provide larger coolers full of chilly water in which worker can immerse their arms and such to lower their body temperature.

And, the CDC says, construction bosses should demand an employee stop work if they are showing signs of heat-related illness. 

 I'm sure a number of Texas construction companies hew to these CDC recommendations.  But I'm also sure other construction companies and other employers don't.  

Every business wants and needs to be profitable. But if the profits come at the cost of heat-related deaths, is the money worth it?

To some employers, Texas lawmakers and Abbott, the answer to that question is apparently "Yes."