"The economic sphere is neither ethically neutral, or inherently inhuman or opposed to society. It is part and parcel of human activity and precisely because it is human, it must be structured and governed in an ethical manner." (Pope Benedict XVI, Charity in Truth [Caritas in Veritate], no. 36) Dear Friends, Catholic Climate Covenant, in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching, supports the rights of people working in dangerous heat conditions. This teaching affirms that human life and dignity, as well as the dignity of work are crucial components of our faith and caring for God’s creation. Yet there are approximately 40 heat-related deaths and 3,389 heat-related illnesses and injuries per year. Workers of color, as with most environmental justice issues, are disproportionately affected. As scorching summer heat waves grow in length and intensity due to climate change, more workers, especially those who work outdoors, are increasingly subject to heat-related stress. Because of this, Catholic Climate Covenant and our partners urge Catholics to let the Department of Labor know that you support the Biden Administration's recently proposed Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) rule, which would protect an estimated 36 million workers from dangerous heat conditions and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and even deaths in the workplace. This proposed rule would create a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in the workplace and clarify employer obligations and take the steps necessary to effectively protect employees from hazardous heat. We strongly encourage you to fill out this form to submit a comment to the Department of Labor before Dec. 18. |
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