Heat stress can be a serious health risk for the approximately 32 million outdoor workers in the ... [+]
The Biden Administration is proposing never-before-seen standards designed to protect workers from extreme heat. If approved, the proposal, announced Tuesday, will require employers to have emergency plans in place and give mandatory rest breaks and resources to combat the impact of extreme heat, like access to shade and water.
If you haven’t experienced it firsthand, let me warn you—it's hot, really hot, in most of the United States. There’s a 61% chance of 2024 being the single hottest year on record and likely one of the five warmest years ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Knowing that our summer months will continue to get warmer, the likelihood of extreme heat events is leading many businesses to rethink their strategies for keeping employees safe and productive.
As forecast earlier this year, a heat dome covered much of the country, bringing dangerously high temperatures to many Americans throughout June. Extreme heat and humidity are among the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Last year, 2,300 people died from the effects of excessive heat, and there were nearly 120,000 emergency room visits from people experiencing heat stress.
Impact Of Heat On Workers’ Health
Heat stress can be a serious health risk for the approximately 32 million outdoor workers in the U.S., especially in industries such as construction, landscaping and agriculture, and the Administration's new proposal today is designed to protect these workers. A 2015 study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health found that farm workers are 35 times more likely than the general population to die of heat exposure. But it is not just outdoor workers who face heat exposure risks; those who work in warehouses, bakeries and similar settings also face heat-related risks.
Some industries are subject to regulatory requirements regarding heat stress management. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides guidelines for preventing heat-related illnesses and deaths in outdoor workers. But several industries don’t have standard extreme heat safety protocols where regulations aren’t applicable. This makes it even more critical to understand and recognize extreme heat threats before it becomes a serious health risk.
The Administration’s proposed plan will standardize heat-safety protocols and outlines two “heat triggers” that will require employers to implements safety protections at certain temperatures.
Extreme Heat Burns Productivity
Extreme heat also impacts productivity. In 2021, more than 2.5 billion hours (about 290,000 years) of outdoor labor were lost to heat exposure in the U.S., potentially costing the U.S. economy up to $100 billion. Individual states and cities are seeing the impact, too. In Texas, research shows the economy is especially vulnerable to hotter summers, and for every 1-degree Fahrenheit increase in average summer temperature, the Texas annual GDP growth slows 0.4 percentage points.
So, what can businesses and workers do when the thermometer shows—and meteorologists forecast—record-breaking temperatures? Use the power of weather data to plan and prepare.
Using Weather Data To Manage Heat-related Risks
Businesses can leverage weather data technology to improve risk intelligence and develop and implement heat risk-management strategies, including training programs and safety protocols.
While extreme weather like tornadoes or severe thunderstorms is often associated with real-time radar and storm tracking information, those seeking insights into broader-reaching, long-term weather events like extreme heat can also benefit from longer-range forecasts and the use of weather analytics. Companies can integrate such data into their safety management plans.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines recommend using a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature monitor to measure workplace environmental heat. For outside workers, knowing the WBGT can inform a critical assessment of heat stress and is necessary to keep employees safe in high temperatures.
Many people are familiar with the heat index and the “feels like” temperature it offers by calculating the humidity and temperature in shady areas to determine the effect the temperature will have on those outside. But the WBGT incorporates multiple factors, including the temperature in direct sunlight, humidity, sun angle, wind speed and cloud cover. Each factor plays a crucial role in determining heat stress on the human body.
For example, when extreme heat combines with high humidity and light winds, it can become riskier than expected, as the body’s natural cooling mechanism does not function as efficiently. There is a formula that can be used to calculate the WBGT, but many safety managers and others find it easier to use data from a handheld heat stress tracker or a weather station.
While there will be some swings back and forth, the recent trend of hot weather stretching coast to coast shows no sign of letting up as we head into the heart of summer, so heat will be a pressing issue for both indoor and outdoor employees. Businesses and the public can take steps now, such as recognizing the symptoms of heat illness and learning how to prevent them to using the WBGT and other data to make informed decisions on how to ensure the safety and well-being of their workforce.
