Final answer:
The employer's responsibility is to address the broken air conditioning to prevent future incidents. While commendation and rest are nice gestures, ensuring a safe working environment by repairing or replacing the cooling system is paramount to prevent health hazards.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario where Florence, a short-order cook at a busy diner-type restaurant, fainted from the heat because the restaurant's air conditioning was broken, her employer's responsibility is to ensure a safe working environment. Therefore, the most appropriate action would be D) Must address the broken air conditioning to prevent future incidents. While commending Florence for her dedication is thoughtful, and providing her with a longer break might be immediately helpful, the primary obligation is to rectify the hazardous conditions by repairing the air conditioning or finding alternative ways to cool the kitchen to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Learning from this and similar workplace safety incidents, employers must be proactive in maintaining equipment and providing a safe working environment. For instance, comprehensive cleaning and regular maintenance of air conditioning systems can prevent the growth of biofilms and other hazards. Additionally, it's important to have proper safety measures and emergency responses in place, as demonstrated by historical events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire, which highlighted the drastic consequences of ignoring workers' safety.