A new study published in Environmental Health reveals that nearly 28,000 workplace injuries in the United States each year are linked to extreme heat exposure. The findings, from researchers at George Washington University and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shed light on how hot weather contributes to injuries across industries and underscore the potential benefits of stronger national protections.
The Study and Its Scope
Researchers analyzed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data from 48 states to examine patterns between heat exposure and reported workplace injuries. The analysis represents the first nationwide model focused on heat-related injuries and demonstrates that the risks extend far beyond outdoor occupations.
According to the study, the likelihood of a work-related injury begins to rise when the daily heat index reaches approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit and increases sharply once it surpasses 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The pattern was evident across nearly all industries, including indoor work environments.
Key Findings
• The risk of work injuries increases significantly with higher daily heat index levels.
• Heat-related injury risks occur across both outdoor and indoor jobs.
• States with OSHA workplace heat exposure standards tend to show lower injury rates on hot days.
• Nationally, about 28,000 injuries each year are linked to hot weather conditions.
Expert Perspectives
“These findings underscore the value of protecting workers from extreme heat,” said David Michaels, senior author of the study and professor of environmental and occupational health at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. “A strong OSHA standard will not only prevent heat illness and death, but will also prevent thousands of work injuries every year.”
Barrak Alahmad, the study’s first author and director of the occupational health and climate change program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, noted that even moderate heat levels can influence workplace safety. “Extreme heat can result in fatal heatstroke. But before we get to these levels, we found that even moderate hot conditions can subtly increase the risk of workplace injuries — a finding that was remarkably consistent in almost all industries we examined,” Alahmad said.
Implications for Worker Safety
The research highlights the broader impacts of extreme heat on both physical and cognitive performance. Heat exposure can impair judgment, reduce focus, and strain the body, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. These injuries can lead to lost wages, long-term health problems, or even premature death.
While OSHA has proposed a national standard to require employers to protect workers from extreme heat, there is currently no federal rule in place. The study’s authors suggest that a national standard could play a critical role in preventing heat-related injuries and illnesses.
Understanding the Scope of the Problem
Because many workplace injuries caused by heat are not officially recorded as heat-related, the researchers emphasize that the true number of cases may be higher than the 28,000 estimated annually. The findings provide new insight into the extent of heat’s effect on workplace safety and reinforce ongoing efforts to establish stronger federal protections for workers exposed to high temperatures.
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