Orangeburg S.C. - As the summer heat continues in South Carolina, workers are growing frustrated with safety conditions. On Tuesday night, the Union of Southern Service Workers held a town hall in Orangeburg to voice their concerns and demands. Among those demands were:
- Effective air conditioning and cooling equipment
- Consistent and frequent breaks with free water
- Compensation or accommodation for heat-related store closures
- A voice in developing a written heat-safety plan
- Training for all supervisors and workers on the signs and symptoms of heat stress and what to do in an emergency.
The town hall was moderated by representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter, (D) - Orangeburg.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), average temperatures have drastically increased across the globe. May marked the 12th straight month of record heat.