Future-proof your business: Invest in heat resiliency, worker safety
Among the many events taking place as part of Climate Week NYC is the first in-person meeting of the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health. The Health Action Alliance created the Commission in partnership with Mercer, with strategic input from the CDC Foundation and additional support from Elevance Health and The Hartford. We are excited about the many opportunities to learn and network with other concerned professionals this week.
To underscore the importance of the founding of the Commission, a recent study reported that June-August 2024 was the hottest season around the globe in the climate record. In the U.S., the average temperature for the first eight months of 2024 was 56.9 degrees Fahrenheit — 3.0 degrees above the 20th-century average. This period was the warmest on record in New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia, states that are not within recognized “warm areas” and where air conditioning is not the norm in homes and worksites. At the same time, in some fast-growing Sun Belt cities, heat trapped in asphalt and buildings during the day is resulting in abnormally high nighttime temperatures.
The toll that heat takes on our health
Why should employers focus on heat? Of all types of extreme climate events, heat has by far the biggest impact on individual health status. According to the World Health Organization, the strain put on the body as it tries to cool itself in the face of extreme heat can worsen health risks from chronic conditions (cardiovascular, mental, respiratory, and diabetes-related conditions) and cause acute kidney injury. In some cases, extreme heat can be lethal. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which actively tracks heat-related illnesses, shows that 2,302 US deaths last year were due to heat-related causes, more than from hurricanes and tornadoes combined.
High temperatures combined with power outages can be especially dangerous. An article in the Washington Post described what happened when Tropical Storm Beryl knocked out power in Houston during a heat wave in July: “For days, residents of Houston struggled to survive as temperatures rose. They shared generators, filled buckets and bathtubs with ice, packed air-conditioned hotels and emergency rooms. The most vulnerable struggled to get the care they needed.” The article goes on to say that a power outage combined with a heat wave “…is a scenario that cities and states are unprepared for.”
Mercer Health News: Extreme climate’s impact on employer’s most important assets – their people
The employer role
Businesses are likely paying close attention to the potential impact of extreme climate on business facilities and operations, but it is important to also be thoughtful about people risks. Do any of your employees work outdoors or in a facility that is not climate-controlled? And what risks do your workers and their families face beyond working hours? Depending on their living situation, heat exposure could be a serious issue. It’s important to recognize that heat doesn’t impact all workers equally. Communities and workers of color, those earning lower incomes, or those without access to air conditioning face even greater risks. As businesses, it’s essential to prioritize health equity by supporting the most vulnerable employees and ensuring that no one is left behind. While the specific actions you take will be based on your situation, you need policies in place to protect employees from heat exposure during work hours and to help mitigate the risks they face during their commute and outside of work.”
