Corporations Are Putting Workers’ Lives in Danger in a Deadly Heat Wave
Climate change means workers have to labor in increasingly dangerous heat during the summer months. Corporations are happy to put workers’ lives on the line — and the federal government isn’t doing enough to stop it.
A UPS worker returns to work after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in New York City. (Noam Galai / Getty Images)
On July 19, the Ring camera at a home in Scottsdale, Arizona, captured video of a United Parcel Service (UPS) driver collapsing at the front door while delivering a package, apparently due to the heat. Temperatures that day reached 110 degrees, as is common for the area in the summer.
The homeowner, Brian Enriquez, shared the video publicly. UPS later issued a statement claiming that the driver was “fine”:
UPS drivers are trained to work outdoors and for the effects of hot weather. Our employee used his training to be aware of his situation and contact his manager for assistance, who immediately provided assistance. Our package delivery vehicles make frequent stops, making air conditioning ineffective.
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