Help employees stay safe during extreme heat

Extreme heat is more deadly than any other weather event,¹ and work-related heat deaths happen far too often. In 2024 alone, there were 48 work-related deaths due to environmental heat exposure in the United States.² Heat-related illness occurs when the body is not able to dissipate heat quickly enough. Internal body temperature rises, and the person may become thirsty, have cramping, or experience heat exhaustion or heat stroke.³ 

This can happen both indoors and outdoors, to the old and the young. Last year, a 28-year-old farm worker in Florida experienced heat illness on the job and died.⁴ Soon after, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the labor contractor for exposing the worker to heat hazards. 

Because the U.S. has experienced some of the highest levels of heat-related illness in recent years,⁵ it’s vitally important that employers manage heat-related risk — both indoors and outdoors — by including it in their safety plan to prevent work-related injuries. 

Why it is important to keep employees safe from excessive heat

Aside from being the right thing to do, keeping employees safe is the law. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety and health hazards. According to OSHA, this includes protecting workers from heat-related hazards even though there is no federal heat safety standard.⁶ 

In early 2026, OSHA updated its national emphasis program (NEP) that is designed to protect workers from indoor and outdoor heat hazards.⁷ Through this emphasis program, OSHA focuses inspections and outreach in industries and workplaces where heat stress risks are most likely to occur. 

What’s more, a number of states, including California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, have developed and enforce their own safety standards related to heat illnesses in the workplace. 

Be aware of heat-related illnesses and symptoms

Heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke (the most serious), heat exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis (disintegration of muscle fiber), heat syncope (fainting), heat cramps and heat rash can affect the body in multiple ways.

Summer heat safety tips for employers and employees

Preventing heat-related illnesses requires thoughtful planning. See below for 10 ways to help create a safer work environment amid extreme heat. 

1. Establish an acclimatization plan: Over 70% of heat-related deaths occur during an employee’s first week on the job.⁸ This underscores the need to establish an acclimatization plan that allows new and returning workers to adapt to the environment. It takes time to get used to working in extreme conditions, and the process varies for each person. 
2. Plan ahead: Employers should create a formal plan to prevent heat-related illness and detail the emergency response actions. This will include oversight of workers, knowing how to respond to official heat advisories and warnings, ensuring adequate first aid is available, and knowing when symptoms support a 911 call. On days of extreme heat, pre-shift meetings should be held to discuss the prevention plan in detail, the symptoms of heat-related illness, and early response procedures to prevent escalation. 
3. Modify work schedules: Modifying work schedules can be an effective administrative control to reduce worker exposure to excessive heat. One common approach is to shift work to cooler parts of the day (e.g., early morning). Additionally, rotating employees through high-heat tasks and less strenuous duties can reduce any single worker’s cumulative heat exposure. Whatever the strategy, employers should provide ample rest breaks so workers have plenty of opportunities to cool off throughout the day. OSHA guidance explains that rest breaks are more effective when taken in a cooler location, as workers can recover more quickly and safely than when resting in warm or unshaded areas. In particular, air‑conditioned spaces help lower a worker’s core body temperature and reduce cardiovascular strain during recovery periods.^{9 10} 
4. Check the weather and monitor the heat index: Weather conditions can change quickly; it’s important to continually monitor the sun, temperature, humidity and other environmental factors and change plans throughout the day as needed. 
5. Use OSHA’s heat app: The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool⁹ provides safety information via mobile devices. Workers and employers can download the app and calculate the risks of certain work sites based on the heat index. They can also sign up for notifications about protective measures to take to prevent heat-related illnesses. 
6. Be able to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses: It’s hard to treat something that hasn’t been identified. The symptoms of heat-related illness are varied but include fatigue, fainting, nausea, dizziness, thirst, rapid heart rate and more. OSHA has provided a list of heat-related illnesses and first-aid recommendations on its website.¹¹ In addition, OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention campaign helps employers and workers understand the hazards of working in hot conditions, the precautions workers can take and the responsibilities of employers. 
7. Develop a training program: It’s the employer’s duty to create a safe working environment, but educating and training workers on the risks of extreme heat will give them the tools they need to understand and prevent it. Training resources could include printed hazard alerts and fact cards, as well as infographics or posters mounted on walls or handed out that outline how to stay protected from heat hazards. Sharing webinars, videos and podcasts on the topic can help educate the employer’s team. 
8. Provide regular hydration opportunities and other measures to combat heat: Dehydration can occur during extreme heat events, so it’s important for employers to provide readily accessible water and offer regular breaks. Sports drinks and other electrolyte-containing liquids can also help prevent and combat dehydration. Workers should be advised to avoid certain drinks during extreme heat, such as caffeine or sugary drinks. These beverages contribute to dehydration. Additionally, employers should have wet towels and ice available to combat heat stress, as well as designated areas where workers can cool down. 
9. Encourage workers to wear proper clothing: Lightweight, breathable materials will allow heat to escape from the body and shield workers from the sun. If an employee must wear heavy garments or other items that retain heat, they should be monitored, and the time spent wearing them should be limited. 
10. Ensure workers wear sunscreen: Workers who spend time outdoors are routinely exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When it comes to UV-related risks, sunscreen is a critical layer of protection that filters or blocks UV radiation before it penetrates the skin. Occupational health guidance recommends that workers apply sunscreen correctly and consistently to ensure reliable protection during outdoor work. Sunscreen with at least SPF 15 should be applied about 20 minutes before sun exposure, covering commonly exposed areas such as the face, neck, ears, hands and forearms. It should be reapplied every two hours or more often if a worker is sweating heavily. For best protection, sunscreen should be used alongside other controls, including sun‑protective clothing, wide‑brimmed hats, UV‑protective eyewear and shaded rest breaks.¹² 

Workforce safeguards against heat waves

In the face of record-breaking temperatures and the tragic toll of heat-related illnesses, it is imperative that employers safeguard their workforce. By implementing comprehensive safety plans and fostering a culture of prevention, business owners can mitigate the risks posed by extreme heat and create a safer, more resilient work environment. 

These resources can be shared with customers: 

• Heat safety risk management article 

• OSHA – Heat Illness Prevention Campaign 

• OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool – A free app that offers site-specific heat index information and risk assessment. 

• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Topic Page on Heat Stress 

• OSHA Topic Page on Heat Stress 

• NIOSH – Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments 

• National Integrated Heat Health Information System 

For more safety resources, visit the Risk Management Solutions Center to access online resources and safety materials.