WASHINGTON — Heat stress is one of the leading causes of occupational illness and death in the construction and restoration industries, and with record-breaking heat forecast for summer 2026, OSHA is intensifying enforcement of its heat safety requirements and urging employers to implement comprehensive heat illness prevention programs.
Heat-related illness ranges from heat cramps and heat exhaustion to heat stroke — a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Workers who perform physically demanding work in hot environments, particularly those who are new to outdoor work or who are not yet acclimatized to the heat, are at highest risk.
OSHA's heat safety requirements are based on the general duty clause, which requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention Campaign provides guidance on the key elements of an effective heat illness prevention program: water, rest, and shade.
Employers should provide workers with cool drinking water — at least one quart per hour — and encourage them to drink frequently, even if they are not thirsty. Workers should be provided with shaded rest areas and encouraged to take regular rest breaks, particularly during the hottest part of the day.
New workers and workers returning from absence should be gradually acclimatized to working in hot conditions over a period of one to two weeks. Acclimatization — the physiological adaptation to heat stress — significantly reduces the risk of heat illness. Employers should monitor new workers closely during the acclimatization period.
