Heat and Worker Health in United States

United States

Exposure to extreme heat or working in hot environments can result in heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash. Of these illnesses, heat stroke is the most serious and can result in death. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.

In 2020, the industries with the highest number of heat-related workplace injuries were trade, transportation and utilities; construction; professional and business services; and manufacturing, in that order.

There are several strategies that employers can use to reduce workplace heat stress, including:

• Making changes to the physical environment of the workplace to reduce exposure to heat. Suggestions include increasing airflow velocity, using heat-absorbing shielding and reducing steam leaks, wet floors and humidity.
• Implementing heat-safe work practices like increasing the number of workers per task, providing water, limiting the time employees spend working in the heat and increasing recovery time in a cool area.
• Training workers to recognize symptoms of heat stress, avoid risk, administer first aid and take measures to protect themselves from heat stress concerns specific to their worksite. 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides recommended standards for working with exposure to heat and hot environments.

Healthy People 2030 has several workplace health objectives, including reducing deaths from work-related injuries and reducing the number of work-related injuries that result in missed work days.