Is drinking water provided at your workplace? Know your rights during extreme heat
Temperatures in Kansas City reached triple digits on Monday, and the extreme heat isn’t expected to subside any time soon.
But despite the scorching weather, Kansas Citians keep going to work in a wide variety of conditions.
That’s why it’s so important to know that federal labor law guarantees all workers drinking water on the job — for free.
It doesn’t matter if you’re working at a construction site or in an air-conditioned office. Your employer must provide free drinking water while you’re on the clock. That’s due to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Standards, a set of federal regulations established in 1974 to guarantee workers safe and sanitary workplaces.
These regulations are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. If your employer isn’t following them, they could be subject to an investigation and a fine.
Neither the federal government nor the state of Missouri require employers to provide rest breaks to workers. During periods of extreme heat, that makes it especially important to take advantage the right to drinking water at work.
What guidelines does my employer have to follow?
All employers are required to provide potable water to their employees, U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson Rhonda Burke told The Star.
“Employers are required to provide drinking/potable water to ALL employees in ALL places of employment, regardless of location and/or job type, activity, or function,” she wrote in an email. “The drinking/potable water is to be provided free of charge to employees.”
In workplaces without readily available running water, a shared water dispenser can serve as the source of drinking water. However, guidelines are in place to keep this shared water source sanitary.
“Portable drinking water dispensers shall be designed, constructed, and serviced so that sanitary conditions are maintained, shall be capable of being closed, and shall be equipped with a tap,” the regulations state.
“Open containers such as barrels, pails, or tanks for drinking water from which the water must be dipped or poured, whether or not they are fitted with a cover, are prohibited. A common drinking cup and other common utensils are prohibited.”
Extra caution is needed during the first few days of extreme heat. Burke added that 50-70% of outdoor heat-related workplace fatalities occur in the first few days of exposure to extreme heat, as the body hasn’t yet acclimated to the temperature.
What should I do if my workplace doesn’t provide drinking water?
If your workplace doesn’t provide drinking water, they may be subject to an investigation or penalties from federal regulators.
“In instances where the employer refuses to provide drinking/potable water, or attempts to charge employees for it, the employee(s) may file a complaint with OSHA,” Burke wrote.
There are several ways to file an OSHA complaint. You should do so as soon as possible after noticing the issue at your workplace.
File your complaint online using OSHA’s online complaint form
Call the Kansas City regional OSHA office at 816-483-9531
Visit or send a letter to the Kansas City regional OSHA office at:
2300 Main Street, Suite 10071
Kansas City, MO 64108
Have you experienced a hazardous workplace environment in Kansas City? The Star wants to hear about your experience. Contact the author of this piece at nwallington@kcstar.com.
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