Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths every year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2011 and 2022, almost 500 worker fatalities resulted from exposure to environmental heat. Over the same period, nearly 34,000 job-related heat injuries and illnesses caused workers to miss days of work. This has prompted OSHA to address this deadly hazard with a proposed regulation.

OSHA’s plans

It is also possible that heat stress injuries and illnesses are much greater than the reported numbers. These types of injuries and illnesses are frequently underreported. This may be even more likely with vulnerable workers. Additionally, heat stress is not always identified as a cause of heat-induced injuries or deaths. These incidents are often misclassified because of overlapping symptoms with other common ailments.

The agency has been working for many years to develop a permanent standard specifically targeting the hazard. In the last decade, OSHA has implemented several emphasis and awareness programs attempting to reduce heat stress injuries and illnesses. It also created an enhanced enforcement initiative addressing heat-­related hazards and established the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety Health Working Group for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention.

OSHA held a hearing last month on the proposed standard, “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” Many are pessimistic about the proposed standard’s ability to regulate and enforce heat stress provisions, since heat-related illnesses can be difficult to quantify and measure. Heat affects people differently and is subjective.

How can employers measure the effect of heat stress on its workforce and protect its employees? To start, employers and workers should be aware of the weather, air temperature, humidity and environmental factors that could put employees at risk. 

OSHA’s proposed regulation would kick in when employees are exposed to a heat index of 80ºF or higher for more than 15 minutes in any 60-minute period. That would mean it’s triggered when the temperature feels like 80ºF, even if the actual air temperature is lower. OSHA also is proposing an extreme heat trigger at an index of 90ºF.

Under these conditions, workers should take more frequent breaks, stay hydrated and be subject to additional monitoring from a supervisor or co-worker. When workers are in the field or on a job alone, there should be protocols in place for self-monitoring and periodic remote check-ins when conditions warrant. 

OSHA’s Heat and Exposure Safety and Health Guidance indicates, “Heat conditions can change rapidly and management commitment to adjusting heat stress controls is critical to prevent heat illness. An individual at the work site should be responsible for monitoring conditions and implementing the employer’s heat plan throughout the workday. This individual can be a foreman, job site supervisor, plant manager, safety director, or anyone else with the proper training.”

What to do?

Proper training includes identifying and controlling heat hazards, recognizing early symptoms of heat stress, administering first aid for heat-related illnesses and activating emergency medical services quickly when needed.

Symptoms to monitor include clammy, moist skin and pale complexion, extreme fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, fainting, loss of the ability to sweat, dry or hot skin, mental confusion, convulsions, delirium, heat cramps, heat rash and even falling into a coma. Workers experiencing or exhibiting any of these symptoms should be moved to a cooler place, splashed with cool water and fanned while sipping water or a drink with electrolytes. Individuals that lose consciousness or exhibit more extreme symptoms should seek emergency medical attention.

When higher temperatures occur, workers need to gradually acclimate. According to OSHA’s guidance, “Every year, thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure, and some cases are fatal. Most outdoor fatalities, 50% to 70%, occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time. The process of building tolerance is called heat acclimatization. Lack of acclimatization represents a major risk factor for fatal outcomes.” 

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that occupational risk factors for heat stress may exacerbate the risks. Some activities include heavy physical activity, warm or hot environmental conditions, lack of acclimatization and wearing clothing that holds in body heat. Additionally, personal risk factors (such as weight, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, poor physical fitness, certain medications and abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs such as opioids, methamphetamine or cocaine) can also increase the dangers of heat. 

Fatima / stock.adobe.com