According to the Labor Department, agricultural workers are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related exposure. Public health experts and advocates for workers have requested that OSHA issue a federal safety standard more quickly.

OSHA responded by submitting a draft of a new standard to protect workers from heat-related harm. A few states already have heat standards for outdoor workers. Since the federal rulemaking process can take years, states can boost protections by drafting and implementing their own heat protection standards, according to Alexis Guild, vice president of strategy and programs at Farmworker Justice.

Guild also advocates for the passage of a Democrat-led bicameral bill that would require OSHA to put in place interim heat protections while they complete rulemaking through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Read more on proposed heat protections here.