Contacts:
Ira Cuello-Martinez, PCUN iracuello@pcun.org, (503) 851-5774
Kate Suisman, Northwest Justice Workers Project kate@nwjp.org, 503-765-7105 Jamie Pang, Oregon Environmental Council, JamieP@OECOnline.org, (971) 353-7963
Oregon OSHA’s Emergency Heat Rules Are a Good Start to Protecting At-Risk Workers; Strong Enforcement Will be Necessary
SALEM, Ore Oregon OSHA today issued emergency rules protecting workers from climate-fueled excessive heat, following an extensive campaign by workers’ rights, environmental, and public health advocates. Governor Kate Brown directed the agency to adopt emergency rules following the tragic and preventable death of 38-year-old farmworker, Sebastian Francisco Perez. Perez died while working on a tree farm in St. Paul, Oregon during the height of last week’s heatwave. Oregon OSHA is in the process of drafting permanent rules to protect workers from exposure to both excessive heat and wildfire smoke, expected to be fi