New York City agencies and labor groups are partnering to shield outdoor workers from extreme heat amid the absence of a federal standard. The efforts include cooling centers, outreach, and education campaigns during recent high temperatures.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order last month to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. The city then deployed hundreds of cooling centers and outreach vans for wellness checks during the Fourth of July heat wave, when forecasts predicted temperatures near 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
UPS worker Dave Carew set up an information booth in the Bronx to remind colleagues of their right to paid breaks. He noted that temperatures inside delivery trucks can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit, creating serious risks despite a union contract requiring air conditioning in new vehicles.
Groups such as the Street Vendor Project and Worker’s Justice Project are distributing maps of cooling stations and advocating for shade, water, and breaks. Deputy Mayor Julie Su said the order treats heat exposure as a public health emergency.
Ligia Guallpa of Worker’s Justice Project called the initiative an important step that acknowledges the need for protection as extreme heat becomes a regular feature of New York summers.
