The Heat is On! Are Your Employees Trained on Heat Illness Injury and Prevention?
The Heat is On! Are Your Employees Trained on Heat Illness Injury and Prevention?
Heat is the leading cause of death from hazardous weather conditions in the United States. Excessive heat in the workplace can lead to serious health issues, including heat stroke and even death if not addressed promptly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 479 worker deaths due to environmental heat exposure from 2011 to 2022, averaging 40 fatalities per year. Additionally, from 2011 to 2020, there were an estimated 33,890 work-related heat injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work, averaging 3,389 per year. However, these figures likely underestimate the true scale of occupational heat-related illnesses, injuries, and fatalities.
Workers in both outdoor and indoor settings without adequate climate control are at risk for hazardous heat exposure. Certain heat-generating processes, machinery, and equipment (e.g., hot tar ovens, furnaces) can also contribute to hazardous heat levels when cooling measures are not implemented. Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant workers and workers of color in essential jobs, are at a heightened risk due to their roles often placing them in high-exposure environments.
On August 30, 2024, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings
This proposed rule aims to establish the first nationwide standards for addressing excessive heat hazards in these environments, impacting approximately 36 million workers. The informal public hearing on these proposed rules concluded on July 2, 2025. While we await the specifics of OSHA’s heat stress rule, prioritizing worker safety and implementing a heat injury prevention plan is crucial.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers must provide a workplace free of known safety and health hazards. This includes protecting workers from heat-related risks. Here are some essential actions to take:
- Develop a heat illness prevention plan that educates employees about heat hazards, teaches them how to calculate heat stress, protects new workers, and provides guidance on engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Stress the importance of water, rest, and shade.
- Train employees and supervisors so they understand the risks associated with heat exposure, preventive measures, and first aid steps.
- Familiarize workers with the symptoms of heat illness and the appropriate responses.
- Make information readily accessible to ensure employees understand the risks of heat exposure and how to take action.
Currently, seven states have specific standards to protect workers from extreme heat: California (for both indoor and outdoor workers), Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
In the absence of federal heat protections, employers in states without specific mandates should actively implement standards to protect their workers and identify opportunities to strengthen existing protections. These actions will safeguard the health and well-being of employees, enhance productivity, and reduce economic losses associated with unprotected exposure to extreme heat.
Let bHravo Help You!
At bHravo, we specialize in helping businesses like yours create comprehensive heat illness injury and prevention plans. Safeguard your employees' health by implementing effective strategies to combat heat stress.
Contact us today to learn more (https://www.bhravo.com/contact)!
