In our spotlight on Business Report tonight.

While New Jersey's baking under a heat advisory, many workers are left out in the sun without proper protections or workplace accommodation since to adjust for the dangerous heat.

It's a problem that nationwide has led to 2000 workers dying on the job each year from heat exposure and 170,000 injured in heat stress related accidents.

That data comes from Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer rights advocacy group.

Now, here in New Jersey, legislation was introduced that would require protections for workers during periods of extreme heat.

But it never passed before.

Lawmakers took a break for the summer.

So now what happens to those braving these scorching days?

Here to talk about it is Garrett O'Connor, director of worker organizing and policy with Make the Road New Jersey.

Garrett, so great to have you with us.

Now, we are right in the midst of a heat advisory.

We know that some of the most vulnerable people right now are workers.

Add to that that today is prime day, meaning factory workers in particular are going to be working harder, faster in these conditions.

What is make the road New Jersey asking for when it comes to worker protections?

The very basics are that we're making, looking to make sure that workers have access to shade, rest and water.

The very basics we're not looking for any type of benefit, fringe benefit.

These are the basics that it takes for a human to survive safely during a extreme heat conditions.

New Jersey State Senator Joe Cryan did introduce a bill before the last legislative session ended before the summer break.

At the same time, OSHA.

Right.

Occupational safety hazard.

They're working on some new rules right now that are pretty much caught up in a very bureaucratic process over there.

What's at risk for workers while lawmakers are really delaying any kind of real reform?

Well, first of all, we very much appreciate the federal government's attention to moving quickly to address extreme heat.

And that's just an indicator for how important it is for the New Jersey legislature to take extreme heat just as seriously, though the federal government has moved on.

Getting a federal rule created the likelihood and I'm no political expert or political prognosticator, but if we anticipate that there's a possible change in administration federally, that we can also expect that worker protections like this and other protections either be rolled back, stalled or stopped entirely.

And so on the local level, when we're talking about an administration and a Supreme Court that at least appear to not even acknowledge their reality of climate change.

What that means is that we're going to count on our state officials who do believe in worker protections and who do believe in climate change to take action, take the action.

The industry, business and industry associations have pushed back on this bill in New Jersey.

They say that it just creates blanket requirements that don't fit when you go from industry to industry.

Do you understand their concerns?

And should the law reflect more kind of specific guidelines?

We're always seeking to understand the concerns of opponents, particularly on matters that are this crucial.

But OSHA itself has recognized that there are 79 industries in which workers are facing particular risks related to extreme heat.

So the suggestion that this should be limited to a handful of industries is just not based in fact.

What is your message to lawmakers who right now are on summer break while many are working in this extreme heat?

Well, our message is consistent.

The workers in New Jersey need protection from extreme heat.

Now, what we have heard is that there is some unfinished business from June that the legislature anticipates taking up during the summer because of the urgency.

And there really is no issue that is more urgent than this one.

If and when the legislature gets back together to take up unfinished business from June.

Now, this should be the highest priority.

All right.

Garrett O'Connor, director of worker organizing and policy at Make the Road, New Jersey.

Thanks for your perspective.

Thank you.

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