FEATURE WHEN TEMPERATURES RISE


Leon Marsh, Founder & CEO of Bodytrak, investigates how OSHA is tackling the escalating threat of workplace heat stress.


With summer only a couple of months away in the US, Europe, Middle East and the UK, there’s no doubt it is getting hotter each year – and so does the conversation about heat stress in the


workplace. Today, businesses and regulators worldwide focus


on two primary concerns: ensuring employee safety in scorching temperatures and introducing new health and safety regulations for high-heat environments.


Workers in industries like metal manufacturing, mining, paper mills, and construction face a heightened risk of heat stress. For example, in metal manufacturing plants, workers are often exposed to high temperatures from furnaces and other equipment that generate heat, while also wearing heavy PPE which prohibits heat loss.


The risk of heat stress is exceptionally high for those working within a close proximity of the heat sources or in confined spaces with poor ventilation. This can lead to cardiovascular strain, dehydration, heat stroke, and even death, not to mention impaired coordination, cognition, and fatigue that all hinder productivity.


Climate change is causing record-breaking heat waves, wildfires, and droughts across the globe. Parts of the USA, Emirates and Gulf endure the highest summer temperatures. In Europe, almost a quarter of workers experience extreme heat, with the construction sector bearing the brunt.


The impact on workers and productivity is alarming. Studies project that by 2030, heat stress could lead to a productivity loss equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs, costing the global economy a staggering $2.4tn. In the US alone, an estimated $100bn could be lost annually due to diminished worker capacity from heat stress.


HOW DIFFERENT REGIONS TAKE ACTION As heat waves intensify, workers worldwide face a heightened risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries. Addressing this challenge is vital, and several countries have implemented mandatory policies to ensure employers provide heat-relieving measures.


Heat stress plagues workers across industries, from agriculture and construction to indoor settings like production plants and workshops. Extreme heat compromises productivity, exacerbates poverty, and jeopardises worker livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable groups. Enforcing evidence-based, mandatory workplace heat stress regulations can safeguard workers by establishing employer requirements and penalties for non-compliance.


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Countries worldwide are developing and implementing rules to protect workers from excessive heat. For example, China mandates protective measures for outdoor and indoor workers, while Thailand relies on the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index to gauge workplace heat stress.


In Gabon, Mozambique, Cameroon, and South Africa, employers must offer rest breaks, personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical monitoring. Costa Rica requires training, acclimatisation time, rehydrating drinks, and shaded rest areas; while Brazil enforces WBGT-based tolerance limits for worker heat exposure.


Governments are updating health and safety regulations in response to increasing heat stress risks. In 2021, Qatar and Saudi Arabia prohibited outdoor work during peak summer heat and set a maximum working temperature of 32.1C / 89.78F. However, progress varies, with only a few European countries having ‘too hot to work’ limits and the EU pushing for enforceable maximum working temperatures.


As climate experts predict more unsafe heat conditions ahead, additional regulations are anticipated. Mandated maximum working temperatures should complement other measures to reduce heat-related incidents, fostering open dialogue between regulators and organisations to enhance risk understanding and incident reporting.


OSHA'S RESPONSE TO EXTREME HEAT Regulators in the United States are taking notice as well. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is tackling extreme heat exposure hazards for workers with a new initiative aimed at better protection in hot environments. Heat illness, although entirely preventable, affects thousands of workers each year in the United States, with 43 fatalities and 2,410 serious injuries in 2019 alone.


In April 2022, OSHA launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) addressing heat-related hazards in indoor and outdoor workspaces. The NEP's goals are increased inspections and enforcement across targeted industries to eliminate heat hazards by sharing best practices, prioritising interventions, and conducting inspections in hot conditions.


This initiative covers general industry, construction, agriculture, and maritime work sites with potential heat-related hazards. The program includes proactive inspections and hazard identification during non-heat- related investigations or extreme heat risk days.


OSHA area directors will prioritise heat-related complaints, referrals, and employer-reported illnesses for investigation. Inspections will involve reviewing OSHA 300 Injury and Illness Logs and 301 Incident Reports and evaluating the employer's heat illness and injury prevention program.


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