How to Protect Employees from Heat Stress

Worker deaths due to heat stress continue to increase. And while the events of extreme heat are expected to continue, that does not mean that deaths need to continue. 

“These deaths are preventable,” Cam Mackey, president and CEO of ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association) told EHS Today in this podcast.

While regulations, such as the National Emphasis Program - Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards was extended until April of 2026, there is debate about whether the proposed heat standard. Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor Settings will become law.

(EHS wrote about the effect of the proposed standard on employers. )

With uncertainty on the federal level, states are taking action. “More states are creating regulations on heat stress,” says Mackey. “Some states have exemplary programs and others are cutting back. So it's up to employers to protect employees.” 

In the podcast, Mackey discusses these issues as well as offers resources to help companies formulate robust programs.