Nevada

As extreme heat kills more Nevadans, OSHA bets on worker protections

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

As extreme heat kills more Nevadans, OSHA bets on worker protections

It’s not just a dry heat in Las Vegas — it’s a deadly one.

The punishing triple-digit temperatures of the Mojave Desert take a toll on those who work outdoors, like construction workers, Strip pool attendants and landscapers. And for years, even though hundreds of Nevadans have died from heat-related illnesses, the state hasn’t required companies to protect them.

That might change in 2024.

After a state bill failed in the last legislative session that would have spurred regulations to shield workers from temperatures above 105 degrees, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration is working on new requirements that would force businesses to set their own rules relative to heat.

Rather than lobby for support in the next session, OSHA will present a proposal to the Nevada Legislative Commission before the end of the year, circumventing the need for multiple committee votes or governor approval.

“We live in Nevada and have all experienced the heat every day in the summertime,” said Victoria Carreón, a state administrator who oversees OSHA. “It’s important to be ready to deal with it and prevent heat illnesses that could be catastrophic for workers.”

Deaths, complaints more than double in Southern Nevada

Perhaps the best indicator of the need for new rules is exhibited by the number of heat complaints that Nevada’s workers filed with OSHA last year.

There were 346 complaints filed in 2023, nearly a 65 percent increase from the amount filed in 2022.

Past Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting found that most complaints are generally from those who work indoors over issues like hot ovens and broken air conditioning. The number of complaints peaks in July, when temperatures are the hottest.

And so-called extreme heat, or abnormally high temperatures, is only worsening across the nation as the world’s carbon emissions change the climate.

An Associated Press analysis found that 2023 was the deadliest year on record across the country when it came to heat-related deaths. Southern Nevada is no different.

The Clark County coroner’s office tallied 307 deaths related to heat last year — a more than 80 percent increase from 2022, according to data obtained by the Review-Journal. A spokeswoman said the county began to investigate deaths that could be heat-related in more detail in 2021.

Dan Burc, a National Weather Service meteorologist in charge of issuing heat warnings in Las Vegas, said at a county press conference in early May that the city hasn’t experienced a record low temperature since June 1999.

Some summer days, temperatures won’t dip below 90 degrees even at the coolest hour, he said.

“You can’t ignore the fact that our climate is changing,” Burc said. “The data shows that we are heating up over time.”

Nevada takes unique approach to worker protections

Though other states have protections that are activated once a certain temperature threshold has been passed, Nevada is taking a different, unique approach.

If passed, every company would evaluate the needs of its workers and submit a heat action plan, said Carreón, the state administrator. This means much of what each company decides would be on its own terms, though OSHA would have the power to hold the company to its promises.

In other states like Texas and Florida, Republican-dominated legislatures and governors have stifled efforts to create mandatory heat protections in local governments, often because of pressure from industry leaders.

However, in Nevada, Carreón said OSHA is working directly with business leaders and trade groups that represent sectors that would be affected.

“Everybody wants to make sure they’re very cognizant that we are in Nevada, and this is a very hot environment,” Carreón said. “The stakeholders involved want to make sure workers are protected.”

Federally, a spokesperson said the Department of Labor is initiating the process to create a national heat standard that would be triggered by temperature thresholds. It likely would mean more breaks when it gets hotter.

The specifics of the national rule are still being decided, but it could add to what’s required of Nevada workplaces beyond a self-decided, company-specific plan. Nevada’s proposal still has more hurdles to pass, including more meetings and a Legislative Commission hearing.

Contact Alan at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.

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Nevada

Winter storm warning blankets parts of California, Sierra Nevada

Published

7 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Winter storm warning blankets parts of California, Sierra Nevada

A winter storm warning is in effect for parts of northern and central California as snowy conditions continue to hit the state, potentially bringing over a foot of additional snow to a region that already saw accumulation this weekend.

The National Weather Service sent out the warning for some elevated mountain areas, including West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County/Lassen Park above 4500 feet, and the cities of Chester, Blue Canyon and Quincy.

The alert warns of additional snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches above 4500 feet, with up to 2 feet at the highest peaks, as well as minor snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches down to 4000 feet. Winds could also gust as high as 45 mph, NWS said.

The warning is set to last through 11 p.m. local time on April 12, with mountain travel highly discouraged as conditions remain slick on the roads, the Sacramento NWS office said.

The potential for additional snowfall comes a day after parts of the state saw multiple inches collect in higher elevations.

The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, nestled in the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass, reported early April 11 seeing nearly eight inches of snow in its area. With the snow described as wet and dense, the lab also predicted between 18 and 36 inches more accumulation over the night of April 11 and throughout April 12.

The NWS initially launched a winter storm watch alert for the Sierra Nevada mountain range area on April 10, advising of moderate to heavy snowfall over the weekend. The April forecast indicated that certain regions along the Sierra Nevada could receive up to 4 feet of snow and wind gusts as high as 45 mph, according to the NWS.

Northern California also braced for other severe weather this weekend, including potential thunderstorms, brief but heavy rain, erratic winds, hail up to “an inch in diameter,” and a small chance of “weak tornadoes,” USA TODAY previously reported. Other parts of the state saw thunderstorms, lightning, and floods, including in the Sacramento Valley.

Other parts of the United States are expecting a boost in warm weather this upcoming week, including parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, which could see temperatures hit the upper 80s from Tuesday, April 14, until Thursday, April 16.

Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on X @katecperez_.

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Nevada

Shooting in remote area of Nevada County leaves 1 dead, homicide investigation underway

Published

19 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Shooting in remote area of Nevada County leaves 1 dead, homicide investigation underway

A deadly shooting in a remote area of Nevada County Saturday afternoon is being investigated as a homicide, deputies said.

The shooting happened around noon on Yellow Pine Lane in the Grainteville Road area, deputies said. This is about 30 miles northeast of Nevada City.

One person died, and their identification has not been released.

A suspect is not in custody, deputies said Saturday evening.

No other details surrounding the incident have been provided and the investigation is ongoing.

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Nevada

LETTER: Nevada and the Colorado River negotiations

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

LETTER: Nevada and the Colorado River negotiations

In your recent editorial on the Colorado River talks, the Review-Journal is right that Nevada deserves fairness in these negotiations. Nevada uses the least water, leads in conservation and re-uses about 85 percent of what it draws.

So why is Nevada being positioned to give more? The Review-Journal makes the case against it, but stops short of addressing how years of prior negotiations have already set a precedent for Nevada to surrender portions of its legal entitlement. Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger has advanced a plan that reportedly includes surrendering up to 50,000 acre-feet, nearly 17 percent of Nevada’s allocation, while upper basin states face no comparable requirement to improve recycling or reduce structural losses.

There is already plenty of “unfairness” to go around, particularly in how Southern Nevada residents have been expected to shoulder the burden (both financially and environmentally) in the name of “conservation.”

For years, water use reductions tied to Lake Mead levels have been driven in part by hydropower thresholds, while the public narrative has centered on the lake’s visible “bathtub ring” to justify restrictions. It is also worth noting that California benefits significantly from higher reservoir levels. Under the compact, water use within the system, not energy production, is the priority.

Now we are told the state will “fight like hell.” The question is: Why not fight for every drop of Nevada’s legal entitlement?

The editorial also does not address a critical fact: Colorado diverts a significant portion of its Colorado River water across the Continental Divide, sending much of it out of the system entirely. Nevada, meanwhile, returns most of what it uses.

Nevada has the smallest allocation, the highest efficiency, significant amounts of stored water and the infrastructure to access it. Yet its leadership appears to be negotiating as a mediator rather than defending those advantages. “Fighting like hell” for fairness means demanding accountability, not giving more away or allowing more to be taken.

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