Editor's note: This article is the second in a series by HR Dive on the impact of climate change on employee health. The first article analyzed how analysts assess the costs to employer-sponsored health plans caused by extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.

The heat wave that swept across large parts of the eastern, midwestern, and southern United States last month provided a real-time demonstration of the threat extreme climate events pose to workers. According to CBS News, at least two workers died from heat in June, including an outdoor worker in Atlanta and a postal worker in Dallas. Between 2011 and 2022, an average of 40 workers died annually in the U.S. due to occupational heat exposure. According to data from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), heat remains the leading cause of death among all hazardous weather conditions in the country.

Furthermore, according to a recent landmark report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), changes in the global climate are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of certain extreme weather events, such as heat waves. The report summarizes the current state of knowledge on climate change.

Despite scientific consensus on this, Kristina Dahl, vice president of science at the nonprofit organization Climate Central, said that partly because of the natural variability of daily weather conditions, employers may fail to understand the connection between climate change and extreme weather events. "An employer who has run a farm for 20 years might say, 'Sure, it's hot today, but we've always had hot days in the summer,' and to some extent that's true. But hot days are becoming more frequent and more severe. It's not always clear what can be attributed to climate change and what is naturally occurring," Dahl said. She added that nevertheless, many organizations are taking steps to protect workers from heat and other environmental factors. In a series of interviews, experts in workplace health, employment law, and climate science told HR Dive how employers can develop such plans.

Construction worker wets concrete during 2025 heat wave
On June 23, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, a construction worker wets concrete to slow its setting time for finishing work as temperatures climbed into the 90s Fahrenheit (about 35 degrees Celsius). Last month's U.S. heat wave demonstrated the dangers of extreme climate events to workers.
Scott Olson via Getty Images

Heat protection is more than just staying cool

When it comes to protecting against environmental heat, employers have many factors to consider. Jessica Martinez, executive director of the worker advocacy group National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH), said in an email that employers should, at a minimum, ensure:

  • Provide clean, potable water
  • Provide rest breaks and shade or cooling areas
  • Provide regular paid rest breaks and adjust them flexibly during high heat periods
  • Develop clear protocols for recognizing symptoms of heat illness and heat stress, and encourage reporting of symptoms
  • Adjust work schedules during extreme heat, especially for new or returning employees
  • Provide safety training in the languages spoken by workers

Only a few states have passed heat safety standards, covering different groups of workers, and OSHA regulators are still considering a federal heat standard initially proposed by the Biden administration. But Dahl said that regardless of legal obligations, employers have the opportunity to implement protective measures. For example, Dahl noted that in states without heat standards, some construction companies avoid roofing work during the hottest months of summer, while others adjust work hours so employees do not have to work during the hottest part of the day.

"Evidence shows that most heat illnesses or deaths can be prevented with adequate water, shade, and rest," Dahl said, citing a 2021 report she co-authored while serving as a climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. The report found that measures such as shifting work hours to cooler periods and changing moderate to light physical labor "significantly improved lost time and wages for outdoor workers."

Regardless of the method employers use to prevent and address heat illness, they should have a written plan—consistent with guidelines issued by agencies like OSHA—and ensure employees are trained to understand it, said Kaiser Chowdhry, a partner at Morgan Lewis. He added that given the varying needs of different workplaces, it is difficult to create a one-size-fits-all approach. But ultimately, "as an employer, your obligation is to protect your employees," Chowdhry said. He noted that employers may consider going beyond best practices and recommendations in certain areas, such as the frequency of employee rest breaks, to ensure employees are as fully protected as possible.

Steel worker cuts through billet as sparks fly in mill
On October 4, 2002, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, a worker cuts through a steel billet at the TAMCO steel mini-mill. Kristina Dahl, vice president of science at Climate Central, said the United Steelworkers' advocacy for heat and air quality protections is an example of workers engaging in safety processes.
David McNew via Getty Images

Employee perspectives are crucial

Martinez said employers should allow workers to take a leading role in health and safety planning, "because workers know the job best and understand what works." She added that heat-related illnesses should be seen as "systemic failures requiring collective, preventive action," not isolated incidents. To that end, Martinez suggested employers provide spaces for workers to raise concerns and suggest policy changes, such as worker-led safety committees. She noted that HR teams should normalize and reward reporting of heat-related hazards and illness symptoms. "A workplace that discourages reporting is a place where suffering is hidden, which is unsustainable for anyone," Martinez said.

Dahl similarly recommended directly involving worker groups in the planning process. She cited the case of the United Steelworkers, which advocated for protections in contracts, including heat shields, insulation of hot surfaces, and installation of ventilation systems to protect workers from heat and airborne hazards.

Haze from wildfires turns the New York City skyline yellow.
On June 7, 2023, in Weehawken, New Jersey, a person pushing a stroller walks through a park as the New York City skyline is shrouded in haze and smoke from Canadian wildfires. Sources told HR Dive that air quality monitoring is one preventive measure employers can take in response to events like wildfires.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez via Getty Images

Climate plans should cover multiple risks

In addition to heat, according to the IPCC report, climate change is expected to increase the frequency of other extreme weather events, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of the Business Group on Health, said in an email that employers can educate employees about climate-related issues and include instructions on how employees can protect themselves and their health in each scenario. "In some regions more vulnerable to climate change, some employers already provide protective kits containing items like air filtration systems, masks, and water filters," she continued. "Other approaches include employers forming support groups, providing mental health services for those in need, and offering support for displaced individuals."

Following the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, sources previously interviewed by HR Dive recommended having plans in place to quickly contact potentially affected employees, ensuring they are prepared for evacuation or can access emergency support when needed.

"The solution is not more corporate wellness programs, but truly enforceable protective measures."

Jessica Martinez

Executive Director, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health

Similarly, following the 2023 wildfires in the U.S. and Canada, National COSH recommended that employees and employers regularly monitor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index reports. The organization also advised businesses to take preventive measures when health risks related to air quality are elevated, such as rescheduling planned work (especially strenuous outdoor work) and installing ventilation systems and air filters to remove smoke particles.

Kelsay said organizations can also make broader commitments to corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability, such as reducing their carbon footprint, transitioning to renewable energy, and creating green spaces and shaded areas for outdoor workers.

However, an emerging issue is that HR leaders may not understand the need to be involved in discussions on safety, risk management, and sustainability, said Tracy Watts, senior partner and national leader for U.S. health policy at consulting firm Mercer. "That's the first step," Watts said, "being part of the conversation and the team so your organization can think holistically about these weather disasters."

She continued that employers can develop broad climate risk plans by first assessing which disasters their employees are most likely to encounter. Then, the plan should cover every phase of the process, including before, during, and after the disaster, as well as the communication processes and emergency resources available at each stage.

Martinez said HR must also understand that while reducing climate risks may impact corporate profits, employee safety must take precedence over such considerations. She added that HR teams play a central role in ensuring protective measures are enforced, while also advocating for paid leave and other solutions that may provide necessary assistance. "The problem is not just heat, but a structure that prioritizes profit at all costs," Martinez said. "When production targets are valued more than human lives, workers are pushed to continue working under dangerous conditions. The solution is not more corporate wellness programs, but truly enforceable protective measures."