Throughout the summer of 2026, people around the world heard two words on repeat: extreme heat. Multiple states recorded several consecutive days of heat indexes above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and a heat dome brought a stretch of extreme heat that lingered into September. The record-high temperatures in July 2026 demonstrated the medical risks of extreme heat, with New York City hospitals logging more than 150 emergency department visits on July 2 alone.
Studies show that heat is the most dangerous weather-related event. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that heat exposure claims the lives of more than 550 workers and causes over 24,000 work-related illnesses and injuries each year.
At the federal level, some recent developments have created uncertainties around enforcement of heat safety measures. An August Congressional Research Service report noted changes to OSHA’s heat-related enforcement program, including a net reduction of 24 industries targeted for inspections.
Workers compensation, however, is enforced primarily at the state level. In no-fault states such as New York, any heat-related illness suffered by a worker performing their normal job duties can result in a workers compensation claim. The onus is on organizations and their risk managers to implement strategies that protect workers during the hottest months of the year.
When Heat Leads to a Workers Compensation Claim
When heat indexes soar, outdoor workers tend to feel it the most. People in construction, roofing, landscaping, agriculture, oil and gas well operations are at high risk, as are package delivery drivers and truck drivers.
Indoor workers are also susceptible to the effects of the heat. Employees of businesses that contain heat-generating equipment, such as industrial washers and dryers, ovens, furnaces and foundries, can be susceptible to heat-related illnesses, as can workers inside spaces that are not air-conditioned, such as warehouses. Even home health aides who work inside uncooled homes all day could fall ill while caring for their patients.
Many heat-related workers compensation claims are self-contained, low-cost, quick turnaround incidents, such as a worker developing dehydration symptoms and being sent to a local emergency room for fluids. However, even in such cases, the employee can miss up to a week of work.
Heat related illnesses are hard to manage at a workplace because the symptoms, such as heavy sweating, intense thirst and headaches, come on quickly. Most workers are focused on their jobs rather than themselves, so they tend to push through the symptoms. When left untreated, employees can develop heat stroke, a potentially fatal illness marked by muscle cramps, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, nausea and a loss of consciousness, requiring immediate medical attention.
Because many claims occur in industries with employees who earn high wages, such as construction and truck driving, workers are incentivized to return to work quickly so they can continue earning their wages. Companies are typically required to pay for the employee’s heat-related hospital visit and lost wages for a few days.
The quick turnaround in injury and return-to work measures related to heat illness means that thorough and accurate documentation is vital for approval of workers compensation claims. All incidents should be reported in writing. Reports should include the weather at the time of the incident and specify whether the employee was working indoors or outdoors.
Risk managers should encourage employees to talk to a supervisor as soon as they feel the signs of heat exhaustion or dehydration to ensure quick action and protection for workers as well as timely claims filing.
An Extreme Heat Checklist for Risk Managers
In almost all cases, occupational heat stress is preventable. To help keep workers safe, risk managers should:
- Know the rules in your state. Federally, heat protections fall under the OSHA General Duty Clause, which requires employers to provide a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Some states, including Washington, Minnesota, California, Oregon and Colorado, have specific laws governing occupational heat exposure. Risk managers should brush up on state laws to ensure they remain compliant.
- Keep workers hydrated and cool. OSHA’s water requirements mandate that all employers provide workers with free access to potable water. Employees should be encouraged to drink water throughout the workday, even when they do not feel thirsty. Businesses must give employees sufficient time to drink water and should create shaded cooling stations whenever possible.
- Create a heat illness prevention plan. Document in writing all the controls and processes designed to protect workers from heat stress. At a minimum, a heat illness prevention plan should include the employer’s first aid and emergency response protocols, methods for alerting employees to heat hazards, and language specifying that workers will not be retaliated against for reporting any heat-related health or safety concerns.
A written heat illness prevention plan should also include rules for new and temporary workers as well as workers returning from extended leave, all of whom may be more susceptible to heat and require closer supervision.
recommends that employers provide shade and paid rest in timed intervals depending on the heat index and required work activities. Specific pacing instructions can be found on the NYS DOL website.guidance from the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL)Ideally, a plan should also include specific action steps based on certain temperature thresholds. For example, - Provide proper protective equipment. Wide-brimmed hats, lightweight and light-colored clothes, cooling vests, wet towels and sunscreen can all protect outdoor workers from heat stress. Employers should consider providing these items or, at a minimum, encouraging workers to dress appropriately for weather.
- Offer education and training. Implement annual training that covers the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and provides an overview of rest and relief measures the employer will provide. Repeat training prior to any extreme heat event.
- Inspect all vehicles. Companies with automotive fleets should maintain their equipment regularly. Inspect to make sure air conditioning is in good working order and that trucks remain well-ventilated.
Regardless of how federal and state regulations may evolve, employers have a legal and moral obligation to protect their workers. Risk managers who plan for extreme heat events and detail the steps their companies will take when heat indexes rise will reduce the likelihood of heat-related workers compensation claims and create the safest workplace possible.