Extreme heat is a workplace hazard. We must treat it that way
Relentless heatwaves have swept across much of Canada, bringing blistering temperatures that aren’t just uncomfortable — they’re dangerous.
In 2021, British Columbia’s “heat dome” claimed the lives of 619 people. This wasn’t an isolated weather event. It was a public health disaster that exposed just how unprepared our systems are for a rapidly warming planet.
In Ontario, we’ve already seen multiple days under extreme heat warnings this season. It’s the most vulnerable who feel it the most: seniors, children, people living in high-rises without air conditioning, and the people who work outdoors or in overheated environments. This isn’t a warning about what’s coming. This is a warning about what’s here.
We can’t afford to treat extreme heat as just another summer nuisance. These are the real and dangerous effects of climate change, and they are already costing lives and putting working people at risk.
Heat is a workplace hazard. We must treat it that way.
Whether it’s........© National Observer
