Austin City Council Approves Breaks for Contruction Workers

Austin, TX - Austin City Council members approved a resolution Thursday to give construction workers a 10 minute rest break for every four hours of work.

Workers say they routinely work long hours in temperatures that exceed 100 degrees, which puts them at risk for heat-related illnesses.

According to a press release by the Workers Defense Project, seven construction workers died last summer in Austin. One of those men, Jeffrey Willenborg, died of heat-related causes after working three days in a row on a construction site in extreme temperatures.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal entity, requires that employers provide drinking water, but it doesn't require they provide rest breaks.

Austin is one of the first cities in the country to pass an ordinance like this, according to the Workers Defense Project.