Rapidly accelerating changes in our climate are causing devastating and deadly wildfires, ice storms, and extreme heat across Oregon. As a result, Oregon workers are increasingly at risk of illness and death on the job. The legislature must protect Oregon workers on the frontlines of this crisis, whose jobs must be done outside in the elements or in non-temperature-controlled environments.
We must do more to protect the lives and livelihoods of workers in Oregon from ever-worsening climate impacts where workplace rules fall short–with additional legislation.
Rapidly accelerating changes in our climate are causing devastating and deadly wildfires, ice storms, and extreme heat across Oregon. As a result, Oregon workers are increasingly at risk of illness and death on the job. The legislature must protect Oregon workers on the frontlines of this crisis, whose jobs must be done outside in the elements or in non-temperature-controlled environments.
We must do more to protect the lives and livelihoods of workers in Oregon from ever-worsening climate impacts where workplace rules fall short–with additional legislation.
HCR 203 would help address gaps in worker protections by:
Defining climate hazards and the kinds of jobs that are climate-impacted.
Specifying that employers have the duty to stop work:
In Level 3 evacuation zones.
In extreme temperatures (i.e., over 100F).
In conditions with extreme poor air quality.
Declaring that workers in Oregon are suffering physically, mentally, and economically due to climate hazards. This lays the groundwork for future legislative action that can compensate workers who’ve lost income due to climate hazards.