Charlene Obernauer, NYCOSH Executive Director

June 18, 2025

I am deeply frustrated and disappointed that during the past legislative session, New York legislative leaders failed the workers who needed protection most. While the Trump Administration moves to eliminate federal workplace heat protections, Albany Democratic leadership had the opportunity to step up for nearly 2 million New York workers—and chose not to act.

This legislative inaction has real consequences. New York State data from the State Insurance Fund shows that workplace injuries increase 29% on days over 90°F, costing our state millions annually in workers’ compensation claims, emergency room visits, and lost productivity. The evidence is overwhelming, yet legislators ignored the data.

In NYC alone, 580 people die from heat-related causes annually, with Black and Latinx workers facing disproportionate risks. These aren’t just statistics—they’re preventable tragedies that could have been avoided with basic workplace protections.

New York had all the tools needed to lead: worker testimonies, scientific evidence, economic data showing the costs of inaction, and broad coalition support from major unions. Instead, legislators chose to leave workers exposed to heat-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

Both chambers have passed tremendous pro-worker legislation in past years like the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act and the Retail Worker Safety Act, both of which are now state law. We are entering into the hottest months of the year and workers will again have zero protections.

NYCOSH will continue our critical education, outreach, and organizing among New York’s workers, and the TEMP Coalition and its members certainly aren’t going anywhere. We’ll be back next session with even greater worker power and coalition strength demanding these life-saving protections.