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Officials from the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are looking into reports that contractors building an F1 racetrack near Austin, Texas were not giving workers water breaks. OSHA investigators told KVUE News in Austin they responded to worker complaints about a lack of water breaks in heat that reached temperatures nearing 100 degrees.
“This weekend, we heard reports from several workers that a crew of 80 workers on the Formula 1 racetrack were not receiving water or any rest breaks in the heat,” said Greg Casar with the Workers Defense Project. “We see that lack of rest breaks, lack of water and harsh working conditions are regular in Austin’s construction industry. We found that over 40 percent of construction workers have not received a rest break other than lunch and almost a third of workers aren’t receiving any water from their employers.”
OSHA has been preaching the dangers of heat related illness to both employers and employees the last few months. It is important to rest and drink lots of fluids while working outside in the summer. It is unacceptable for employers to put their workers at risk, especially when the dangers are known. If you have been injured on the job, contact an experienced attorney to ensure you receive the workers compensation you are owed.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus workers comp attorneys.