With warming trends now documented across 41 states and heatwaves occurring at roughly twice the frequency seen in the 1960s, an issue that used to be limited to certain seasons is now emerging as an ongoing occupational risk.
In construction, manufacturing, and other high-exertion industries, heat exposure is predictable, measurable, and something we see season after season. Yet many heat illness prevention efforts still focus primarily on what happens during the work shift.
Long before high temperatures can cause heat illness and even death, heat exposure is linked to subtler impairments in physiological and cognitive performance, according to a new study.
As safety professionals and leaders, we focus heavily on PPE, protocols, and procedures, but one foundational element often goes overlooked: the physical environment itself.
