Workers rally in Trenton for protection from heat-related illnesses

The workers are calling on the state to start tracking heat-related deaths and illnesses while on the job.

Matt Trapani

Jun 20, 2025, 9:24 PM

Updated 5 hr ago

Share:

Some workers who make their living outside protested in Trenton on Friday as temperatures around the state rose.
The workers are calling on the state to start tracking heat-related deaths and illnesses while on the job. With temperatures set to hit triple digits next week, advocates say protections are essential for saving lives.
"Being able to take rests, being able to find shade, access to water, access to breaks... and that the employer is aware of what the conditions are and what they mean for their workers' safety,” says Meghan Hurley, policy and advocacy organizer for CATA Farmworkers.
Hurley also says that there should be steps in place for employers to make sure workers are safe and are able to take care of themselves.
The Labor Department says that over the past decade, heat has killed more than 400 workers on the national level.