UPS Driver's Widow Calls for Worker Safety in Heat

The widow of a UPS driver who passed away last year is advocating for improved safety measures for workers amid rising temperatures. Her plea comes in the wake of a recent incident in Bell County, where a UPS worker died, and another worker was involved in a crash near McKinney shortly thereafter. The widow, identified as Lambeth, expressed her disbelief at the recurrence of such tragedies, recalling her late husband, Chris Begley, who served as a UPS driver for 28 years and suffered heat-related illnesses on multiple occasions. Lambeth recounted a particularly alarming incident when her husband collapsed from heat exhaustion while she was caring for her ailing father. She discovered he had been left alone at home after losing consciousness on the job, raising concerns about the company's response to heat-related health risks. In response to these incidents, UPS has announced a significant investment of over $409 million annually aimed at enhancing safety training, providing specialized cooling gear, and upgrading equipment to mitigate heat exposure for its employees. David Reeves, president of Teamsters Local 767, emphasized the company's responsibility for driver safety, highlighting a troubling report that a sick driver was instructed to return to the UPS center instead of receiving immediate assistance. Lambeth noted that feedback from drivers indicates little has changed in terms of safety protocols, leaving families to endure similar hardships. Despite the ongoing investigations, UPS stated there was no indication of heat stress in the recent death.