Excessive heat leads to more workplace injuries

An emerging body of research is pointing to a strong relationship between excessive heat and the frequency of work-related injuries and insurance companies are taking notice. The severity of heat-related claims is going up and insurers are scrutinizing heat-related workplace risks and employers' preventive programs in assessing risk profiles.

In 2023, Marsh conducted an analysis that showed heat-related workers' compensation claims have increased significantly over the last 10 years. Notably, the Southwestern United States has seen the incidents of heat-related claims double during this period. A report by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center notes, "Occupational injuries due to extreme heat currently stand at approximately 120,000 per year. By 2050, that is expected to rise to almost 450,000."

While most employers are aware of the illnesses directly related to heat exposure, such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat rash, the hidden impacts of heat on injuries are just beginning to be understood. Heat-related workplace injuries include incidents not typically linked to heat, such as falling from heights, getting struck by a vehicle, or mishandling dangerous machinery. High temperatures are linked to reduced cognitive performance and decision-making. Workers become fatigued and less attentive, which can cause them to make mistakes that lead to injuries or even death. The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found 14 percent more claims occurred at times of high heat.

According to workcomp expert, Joe Paduda, additional hidden impacts were identified in three studies by the state of Washington's Labor and Industry (L&I) based on 16 years of data. These include:

• Heat increases absorption of chemicals through the skin and potentially increases toxicity, a major concern for agricultural workers working with insecticides and fertilizers
• Heat and wildfire smoke increases cardiovascular disease; it appears the mechanism is chronic inflammation
• Excessive heat leads to "incredibly diminished productivity"
• There is a much higher [67 percent] risk of injury when temperatures are above 82-86 degrees compared to a baseline of 76 degrees

Exposure to heat can also have long-term effects. It can cause workers to develop illnesses such as acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease that could complicate workers comp claims. The most vulnerable industries are construction, agriculture, and public administration (first responders and firefighters), but any worker whose job involves considerable time outdoors is at risk.

According to a research director at L & I, most heat-related workers comp claims occur within the first two weeks of employment, suggesting new workers are at higher risk because they haven't yet been acclimated to the work and environment. Other studies have shown that construction and agricultural workers arrive at the jobsite already dehydrated, underscoring the importance of educating workers about hydrating outside of work.

The recent controversy over Florida's new law banning counties and municipalities from requiring private employers to offer heat safety protections to employees beyond what's required by OSHA highlights the absence of effective, federal regulations. While many worker safety advocates are outraged, others argue that a patchwork of local rules makes it difficult to do business and that regulations should be at a federal or state level. A similar law went into effect in Texas in September 2023 and is now being challenged in court.

Although in the works, OSHA lacks a federal heat standard and there is no clear timetable for finalizing one. Some states including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and localities such as Phoenix have standards, which generally call for regular water and rest breaks for workers during certain weather conditions. The Florida law says it will step in if OSHA doesn't adopt a heat exposure standard by July 2028.

For now, most employers are left to create their own hot weather strategies based on OSHA's and other agency recommendations around water, rest, and shade. OSHA does have a National Emphasis Program on heat and last summer issued a heat hazard alert. In February, the American Society of Safety Professionals published a voluntary consensus heat standard for the construction and demolition industries but may be relevant for other industries.

Helping workers stay cool in the heat not only protects them from heat-related illnesses, but also bolsters productivity and reduces the likelihood of accidents and errors. Now is the time to review your heat illness prevention program and perform a hazard analysis of new positions or situations that may involve exposure to extreme heat. Also, review workers' compensation claims to watch for trends that could be impacting your risk profile.