Oregon enforces new heatwave worker rules amid return of triple-digit temperatures

Rules sparked by death of immigrant Sebastian Francisco Perez in farm field in June

Kids play in the Salmon Springs Fountain on June 27, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. Record breaking temperatures lingered over the Northwest during a historic heatwave this weekend. (Getty Images)

Oregon will enforce new heatwave-related worker rules as temperatures in the state are set to hit triple digits again this week.

The code, seen as the strongest in the US, was introduced in June after the death of Guatemalan immigrant Sebastian Francisco Perez died in a farm field during a heatwave.

Officials say that at least 116 people died in Oregon during the record-breaking heat earlier this summer, which saw the highest record ever recorded in Portland of 116F.

Mr Perez, 38, collapsed at a nursery in a rural part of the state when temperatures soared past 100F and paramedics could not revive him.

The new rules include making employers give workers access to shade and cool water and cool-down breaks in shade for 10 minutes for every two hours of work.

Workers and supervisors must all be trained about heat illness and the symptoms of it.

And workers are encouraged to confidentially contact the state if their employer is not complying with the rules.

The National Weather Service says there is an excessive heat warning in place for Oregon until Saturday night, with “dangerously hot conditions” that could see temperatures reach 105F.

“Looking at the temperatures that are coming this week, we can’t say enough about the need for employers to take this seriously and to do the best they can to protect their workers,” said Aaron Corvin of the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Division.

“We need a lot of folks pulling in the right direction on this. We have steps in place, but we need a lot of folks stepping up.”

The new rules are currently temporary but OSHA plans to make them permanent later this year.

“That comes into play in the future as we face these hot weather events,” added Mr Corvin.

“The fact is it’s not going away. We need to build up our defenses.”