Dallas Postal Worker Dies Amid US Heat Wave Sparking Safety Concerns

Jacob Taylor, a 51-year-old U.S. Postal Service worker with 28 years of service, died after collapsing on his mail route in Dallas during a heat wave with temperatures in the mid-90s. While the official cause of his death is still under investigation, union leaders and local officials emphasize the dangers of extreme heat for postal workers, recalling the heat-related death of Eugene Gates Jr. two years prior, which prompted OSHA fines against USPS for inadequate heat protections. Taylor's death has renewed calls from the National Association of Letter Carriers for enhanced safety measures including more air-conditioned vehicles and adjusted work hours to protect postal workers from extreme temperatures. Despite USPS stating employee safety is a top priority and highlighting their National Heat Illness Prevention Program, union representatives contend that support remains insufficient amid ongoing heat risks. Taylor's passing also coincided with another heat-related death in Missouri, highlighting the broader dangers of the current nationwide heat wave that has broken century-old temperature records and strained vulnerable populations. Temperatures are expected to decline later in the week, but some regions like the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes will continue to experience above-average heat.