Heat Safety on the Job
In April 2026, OSHA updated its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards. OSHA created the NEP to draw extra attention to different aspects of health and safety, and for the current heat update they surveyed injury and illness data from OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify 55 high-risk target industries.
As SHES Safety Consultant Rachel González explained, “These target industries are typically either outdoor, such as construction or waste collection, or indoor but have a lot of heat-producing equipment, like industrial bakery ovens or furnaces for metalworking.”
The NEP update is significant not only for its own sake, but it also presents an ideal opportunity to share a refresher on tips and strategies for heat stress prevention and mitigation. Regardless of employment sector, heat safety is crucial, especially in the summer months.
Preventing Heat Stress
The best heat stress safety strategy is prevention:
- Drink lots of water, preferably 8 ounces every 15–20 minutes
- Take regular breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas
- Wear light clothing when possible
- Eat breakfast and regular meals to maintain salt levels
- Avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, which can lead to dehydration
- Consume beverages with electrolytes if consistently sweating for more than two hours
“Alcohol consumption within 24 hours of your work shift will actually predispose you to dehydration the next day,” González said. “It’s really important that employees hydrate before, during, and after their work shift.”
It’s also crucial for workers to acclimate gradually to the heat in their workplace. “Nearly 50% of heat-related fatalities occur on somebody’s first day on the job, and over 70% take place during their first week,” said González.
Heat Exhaustion
Although heat exhaustion and heat stroke are easily confused, they’re not the same.
“Heat exhaustion is the precursor to heat stroke,” González said. “It happens when your body loses too much water and salt from sweating.” At this stage, the body is struggling but still able to cool itself.
Common symptoms include:
- Heavy perspiration
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Muscle cramps
- Feeling faint
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is more serious and results when the body is no longer able to regulate its temperature.
As González explained, “With heat stroke, the sweating mechanism has failed. Body temperature can rise rapidly, sometimes to 104 degrees or more.”
Signs of heat stroke include:
- Disorientation or delirium
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Skin that feels hot and dry to the touch
- Unconsciousness
Without proper treatment, heat stroke can be fatal. Said González, “When people experience a heat stroke, oftentimes they die from a heart attack, because your body can only do so much to cool itself down.” Over 70% of those who suffer a heat stroke will die if not treated promptly. However, with early diagnosis and immediate cooling, the mortality rate can be reduced to 10%.
Heat Exhaustion: What to Do
If you notice signs of heat exhaustion:
- Move to a cool or shaded place
- Sit down and rest
- Drink water or electrolyte drinks
- Apply wet towels or take a cool shower
- Remove extra clothing or PPE when possible
- Depending upon severity, seek medical care
“Never leave somebody who’s showing signs of heat exhaustion alone,” González said. “The condition can worsen quickly and unexpectedly.”
Heat Stroke: What to Do
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately; you have roughly 30 minutes to make an impact. While waiting for help to arrive:
- Move the person to a cooler area, such as shade or an air-conditioned space
- Cool their body as fast as possible with cold water or ice
- Use methods like full-body cooling or ice packs
Said González, “The gold standard is full-body immersion in cold, icy water.”
When that option isn’t available, she recommends implementing the TACO (Tarp-Assisted Cooling with Oscillation) method, which requires a tarp, ice, and four other employees.
Lay down the tarp on a stable surface and logroll the heat-stressed person onto the tarp. Station one employee at each corner of the tarp and pour ice on their body.
Then have each assisting employee raise their tarp corner and agitate the ice to bring it in contact with as much of the afflicted person’s body as possible.
Most heat dissipation occurs on the surface of the skin. By moving the tarp back and forth and having ice and cold water contact all parts of their body, the heat will come off their body more rapidly.
Making a Workplace Plan
Heat illness is preventable, which is why it’s so important to educate employees and create an actionable workplace plan.
On July 8, SHES is offering a Strategies for Heat Illness Prevention course, led by Safety and Health Consultant Trey Sawyers and Industrial Hygienist Sean Castillo.
Looking for other resources?
- Watch our videos – Safety Tips for Mitigating Heat Illness, Exhaustion, Stroke which includes 5 short videos covering symptoms, tools, and equipment needed for cooling.
- Read this blog post on Cooling Ideas: 7 Ways to Reduce Heat and Energy Cost from our partner Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP).
- Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke Quick Guide:
To prevent heat illness, employers can ensure their employees are protected from occupational heat hazards. To do so, companies can develop and implement heat stress prevention programs, provide effective training to employees, provide time for acclimation of new and returning workers among other measures, and know the signs of heat stress. (NIOAA/Special Graphic)