Community voices: Federal heat hearings offer hope for lifesaving worker protections

Heat is a serious hazard for today’s outdoor workers. Every summer, temperatures seem to creep higher, creating more high-heat days. In construction, where workers perform physically demanding work for long hours, often while wearing respirators and other protective equipment, the risk for experiencing heat exhaustion and even heat stroke is very real. Construction workers make up only 6% of the U.S. workforce but account for 36% of all heat-related deaths on the job. 

The steps needed to prevent heat illness and more serious conditions are simple and well known – the body needs water to replace lost fluids and time to rest out of the sun so the body can cool down.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency tasked with protecting U.S. workers on the job, in 2024 proposed a new national safety standard to prevent heat illness. OSHA recently held a series of public hearings to take comments on the proposed rule, and the comment period remains open until Sept. 30. For workers who spend hours under the sun in extreme heat, adoption of this rule could mean the difference between life and death. 

Federal OSHA sets the bar for employers across the country, including in states with their own OSHA plans. That’s because by law, state OSHA standards must be at least as protective as existing federal standards. Currently, there is no heat standard at the federal level, and existing state standards vary widely. 

A strong heat illness standard would provide protection for workers and clear instructions for employers. On top of fundamental provisions covering water, rest breaks and shade, another vital component is language on acclimatization – the process of allowing the body to get used to high-heat conditions. Overwhelmingly, when workers die on the job from heat exhaustion or heat stroke, it happens within their first two weeks on the job. 

Other industry best practices to prevent heat injury include clearly defined actions for employers to take at specific temperature or heat index triggers, the use of a buddy system, and having a written program that includes worker training and an emergency response plan. 

Investing in heat protection not only saves lives – it also improves productivity. Studies show that productivity can drop 20% to 40% or more in hot environments. In contrast, employers who implement comprehensive heat safety programs see fewer forced work stoppages, reduced absenteeism and higher output. A 2021 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that well-acclimatized workers were 30% more productive in high-heat conditions compared to workers who were not acclimatized. Heat safety is not just for workers’ health; it’s also a smart business strategy. 

Federal OSHA’s proposed heat standard would go a long way to protect construction workers and other workers across the U.S. from the dangers of high-heat exposure on the job. For the sake of workers’ health, it’s critical that Federal OSHA pass a strong, enforceable heat illness prevention standard. Anything less would risk the lives of the hard-working men and women who toil daily in the heat to build our roads, bridges, energy systems and other critical infrastructure.