Heat Safety for the Modern Workplace: 5 Essential Steps to Protect Employees

2026 has already been a record-breaking year for extreme heat events although we are only halfway through the season. Extreme heat impacts all organizations and most locations – whether employees work inside or outside. Even if your workplace is an indoor office, your employees will encounter health risks from extreme heat during their commute and while at home. Employers must be proactive with heat safety to protect the health and productivity of their workforce.  

Occupational health and safety authorities are keeping up with the times. In April 2026, the U.S. OSHA announced updates to its national emphasis program to protect workers from indoor and outdoor heat hazards. Under the updated guidance, workplace inspections and outreach efforts will be increasing and especially focused on high-risk industries. Worldwide, most countries have enacted heat safety requirements for workplaces – check national, state/province, and municipal laws to ensure your workplace is up-to-date and compliant.

Workplace Heat Safety Programs – The 5 Essentials 

1. Heat Safety Education

Train employees in the best practices for heat safety (both at work and at home), how to recognize and respond to symptoms of heat illness, and the worksite’s emergency action plan for activating medical care. Assign work “buddies” to monitor each other for signs of heat illness and ensure their “buddy” is following the hydration and work / rest cycle plan. Conduct refresher training ahead of heatwaves.  

2. Monitor Daily Conditions

Monitor the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) or the heat index for your specific worksite using online resources or apps. In the U.S., the CDC’s HeatRisk tracker monitors daily heat risk by zip code and provides customized heat safety advice. Link the WBGT or heat index temperatures to workplace activities and accommodations like increasing rest periods, hydration breaks, and adjusting work hours. 

3. Acclimatization

Most heat-related fatalities occur in the first few days of exposure, because the body isn’t acclimatized. Acclimatization is a physiological process that improves the body’s tolerance to heat by gradually increasing the duration of heat exposure. The process can take several days or up to two weeks, and health authorities like the U.S. CDC / NIOSH have recommended procedures.  

4. Hydration: 

Provide an adequate and accessible supply of cool, potable water, cups, electrolyte drinks and toilet facilities. Replenish supplies throughout the day. 

5. Worksite practices and controls 

Redesign worksite practices and controls to reduce risks from heat. For example, use portable air conditioners, fans, or misters, install pop-up tents or canopies for shade, provide cooling vests and wide-brimmed hats, limit the time employees spend in the heat and increase recovery time spent in a cool area. Apply these practices to indoor worksites too, including large warehouses or factories where air conditioning systems may not be able to effectively cool all work areas. 

Just like we prepare for winter season weather, we need to prepare for heat season weather. By implementing basic heat safety measures and remaining vigilant, employers can protect the health of their employees and adapt their workplace to the environment of the 21st century. 

Need help strengthening your workplace heat safety program? International SOS partners with organizations worldwide to help identify heat-related risks, develop practical prevention strategies, and build resilient workplaces that protect employee health, safety, and productivity.

Contact us to learn how we can support your organization: https://www.internationalsos.com/get-in-touch