The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed an average of 33 work-related deaths due to environmental heat exposure between 1992 and 2021. Following a recorded 48 work-related deaths in 2024, that average has increased. (Sources: osha.gov and epa.gov) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 50% to 70% of outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments. This needless loss of life is often due to a lack of acclimatization to heat that would otherwise provide heat tolerance for work activities. Although encouraging employees to drink fluids and take frequent rest breaks is important, employers can’t overlook other methods to protect employees from heat exposure.

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