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The 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Wave: A Critical Event for Workers
From June 26 to July 2, 2021, the Pacific Northwest experienced an unprecedented heat wave. Temperatures reached 121.28°F (49.6°C) in some areas, shattering previous records.18 In Seattle, temperatures hit 108°F, about 30°F above average for that time of year.19
The human cost was severe. Washington reported over 400 heat-related deaths,20 while British Columbia estimated 740 extra deaths.21 Heat-related illnesses and injuries surged, with a 69- fold increase in emergency room visits in the affected US region compared to 2019.22 Outdoor workers in agriculture, construction, and forestry were particularly vulnerable–with older male laborers at highest risk.23
18 White et al., “The Unprecedented Pacific Northwest Heatwave of June 2021.”
20 Oron.
21 White et al., “The Unprecedented Pacific Northwest Heatwave of June 2021.”
22 White et al.
23 Casey et al., “Excess Injury Mortality in Washington State During the 2021 Heat Wave.”
Work cancellations, insufficient safety measures, and heat-related illnesses led to lost work hours, lower output, and devastating economic losses for communities throughout the region.24 In British Columbia, crop yields fell 20-30% below predictions, and farms reported over 651,000 animal deaths.25 Wildfires destroyed infrastructure, burned towns, and worsened air quality across the region.26
Unions mobilized in response to this and previous heatwaves:27
● In Washington and Oregon, United Farm Workers (UFW), demanded emergency heat standards–highlighting that farmworkers' suffer an especially high death rate.28
● Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ) advocated for new heat standards in Washington.29
● The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades secured heat and smoke safety protections for canvassers in their January 2021 contract.30
Today, Washington requires employers to provide water, shade, and breaks for all outdoor workers when temperatures exceed 80°F.31 Additionally, Washington mandates that employers provide outdoor workers with N95 masks during wildfires.32 Organized labor can use climate- conscious bargaining as a powerful tool to respond to the climate crisis.
By 2080, Washington could face up to 48 extreme heat days annually.33 Ongoing enforcement, advocacy, and resilience planning for worker protection are key to addressing the climate crisis.
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In the U.S., heat exposure is estimated to cause significant losses in work hours and productivity, leading to billions of dollars in additional costs annually. Between 1980 and 2016, the average annual economic loss due to heat stress was about $14 billion, affecting sectors such as manufacturing the most. Without action to mitigate climate change, these losses could rise to anywhere between $50 billion and $119 billion.34
Intense hurricanes and other extreme weather events linked to climate change also pose major threats to workplace safety and operations. In recent years, military bases have suffered catastrophic damage from these severe storms. For example, Hurricane Michael in 2018
24 Tetzlaff et al., “Working under the 2021 Heat Dome.”
25 White et al., “The Unprecedented Pacific Northwest Heatwave of June 2021.”
26 White et al.
28 Isser, “The Heat Wave Shows Climate Change Is a Workers’ Rights Issue.”
30 Isser, “The Heat Wave Shows Climate Change Is a Workers’ Rights Issue.”
32 Oron.
33 White et al., “The Unprecedented Pacific Northwest Heatwave of June 2021.”
devastated Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, while that same year Hurricane Florence caused
$3.6 billion in damage at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.35 Hurricanes frequently interrupt missions, knock out critical utilities like power and water, release hazardous materials, and can even lead to injuries and loss of life for personnel.36
Extreme weather events such as storms and floods pose direct physical threats and require clean-up activities, which can further expose workers to hazardous materials. These extreme weather events can spread around toxic pollution from contaminated areas. Floodwaters pick up and redistribute heavy metals, radioactive materials, and persistent chemical pollutants that had built up over time in riverbed sediments near old industrial sites and mines.37 This frequently happens when major floods hit regions that were impacted by past mining operations, releasing those toxic sediments laden with metals and other dangerous materials.38
Not only do workers have to deal with the dangers of the storms and floods themselves, but the aftermath can be risky too. All the contaminated mud and muck that gets spread around means clean-up crews working in the flooded areas face exposure to those hazardous materials from legacy pollution getting dredged up.39 Handling the remediation and rebuilding in places with remobilized industrial contaminants from past manufacturing or mining poses an added health risk for those workers on the scene.
Poor air quality from climate change-related factors like increased levels of pollutants can lead to respiratory diseases, further impacting workers' health and productivity.40 In the U.S., outdoor workers are more exposed to pollutants, which can lead to respiratory illnesses, including asthma.41 Firefighters, including IAM members, exposed to wildfire smoke can experience health impacts such as reduced lung capacity and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, lung inflammation, and decreased lung function.42 Similarly, indoor environments can worsen due to outdoor pollutants, affecting workers in various sectors.43 COVID-19 exposed the widespread lack of air filtration and exposed the risk that poor indoor air quality poses to workers. Whether pollutants or disease, indoor workers are not immune to the negative effects of pollution outside their doors.44
35 VanDervort, “Sea Level Rise and Beyond.”
40 Bayram et al., “Impact of Global Climate Change on Pulmonary Health.”
41 Poole et al., “Impact of Weather and Climate Change with Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality in Asthma.”
42 Navarro, “Working in Smoke.”
43 United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Climate Change and the Health of Workers.”
Climate change also affects the labor market through job losses, changes in job availability, and shifting geographies of economic sectors. Sectors such as agriculture, construction, and outdoor services are highly susceptible to climate change impacts. Severe weather conditions, such as droughts, heavy rainfall, and intense storms, can negatively impact manufacturing and other industries. These disruptions may result in layoffs and reduced output. For instance, in the United States, factories and other vulnerable sectors are predicted to suffer significant financial losses due to a shrinking workforce caused by extremely hot temperatures.45 Global warming can make some places too difficult to live or work in, leading to unemployment and migration.
This can cause imbalances between the number of available workers and job openings in different areas.46