Heat stress is one of the most dangerous things that can happen at work, especially as temperatures rise around the world and extreme weather events happen more often. Everyone who works in high heat is at risk, but some industries are at higher risk because the jobs are physically demanding, workers are exposed to heat for long periods of time, and they don’t have easy access to cooling measures.

In this blog, we’ll look at the industries that are most likely to cause heat stress and talk about ways to keep workers safe. We’ll also show how wearable technology can help with monitoring and prevention in real time.

Why Some Industries Face Higher Heat Risks

Some jobs are more likely than others to expose you to heat. Workers who do hard work outside in the sun, in hot indoor spaces, or near equipment that makes heat are much more at risk. The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) says that some of the industries with the highest rates of heat-related injuries are public safety, construction, mining, and agriculture. These rates range from 310 to over 1,000 incidents per 100,000 workers.

Studies also show that the risk of heat-related illness (HRI) goes up a lot with temperature: at 90–95°F, workers are 7 times more likely to get HRIs; at 95–100°F, they are 11 times more likely; and at 100°F or higher, they are 18 times more likely (WCRI Report).

High-Risk Industries for Heat Stress

1. Construction

Construction workers are one of the most at-risk groups. Between 1992 and 2022, they made up more than a third of all heat-related worker deaths in the U.S. (EPA).

• Risk factors: Spending a lot of time outside, doing a lot of manual labor, wearing protective gear, and not having enough shade.
  
• Prevention strategies: Scheduled breaks in shaded areas, hydration stations, and wearable monitoring that lets supervisors know before workers show signs of illness.

2. Mining and Oil & Gas Extraction

Whether they work underground or on drilling platforms, miners and extraction workers are always exposed to heat from machines, tight spaces, and hard physical work.

• Risk factors: Bad air flow, high temperatures, and long shifts.
• Prevention strategies: Better ventilation, cooler rest areas, and wearable devices that can tell when your core body temperature is rising.

3. Manufacturing & Utilities

Indoor spaces can be just as dangerous as outdoor work sites. People who work in smelting plants, foundries, food production, and power generation facilities often have to deal with heat coming from machines.

• Risk factors: Heat from stoves, ovens, and boilers; long periods of time spent in small spaces.
• Prevention strategies: Engineering controls like ventilation, misting fans, cooling vests, and biometric monitoring of workers’ vital signs are some ways to stop this from happening.

4. Agriculture

Farmworkers work long hours in the sun doing hard physical work. OSHA says that agriculture is one of the most heat-sensitive industries, especially for seasonal and migrant workers.

• Risk factors: Not being able to get enough water, not getting enough rest, not being able to speak the language, and having to keep working because of money problems.
  
• Prevention strategies: To avoid heat-related problems, people should use shade structures, drink a lot of water, go through heat acclimatization programs, and wear safety tech that can find early warning signs.

5. Public Safety (Firefighters, Police, EMTs)

The HRI rate for public safety workers is over 1,000 cases per 100,000 workers (WCRI). Firefighters are especially at risk because their protective gear traps heat.

• Risk factors: Wearing heavy uniforms, responding to emergencies in harsh conditions, and not knowing how long you’ll be exposed.
• Prevention strategies: Advanced cooling gear, rotational shift management, and biometric tracking during operations are all ways to stop this from happening.

How Employers Can Protect Workers in High-Risk Industries

By using a multi-pronged approach to prevention, businesses can greatly lower the risks of heat stress:

• Training & Awareness: Teach workers how to spot the first signs of heat illness.
• Engineering Controls: Make the rest areas cooler, better ventilated, and more shaded.
• Work Practice Controls: Change schedules so that they happen when it’s cooler outside, and encourage breaks for drinking water.
• Acclimatization Programs: Follow NIOSH guidelines and let workers get used to the heat over the course of 1 to 2 weeks.
• Wearable Technology: Connected wearables from SlateSafety can keep an eye on core vitals in real time and let supervisors know when heat strain is getting dangerous. This keeps workers safe and helps employers follow new federal heat standards.

Final Thoughts

Construction, mining, agriculture, utilities, and public safety are some of the industries that are most at risk for heat stress. However, employers can keep their employees healthy, save lives, and protect their bottom line if they use the right strategies.

By combining traditional safety measures with real-time wearable monitoring, companies can move from reactive to proactive safety, making sure that no worker’s health is put at risk in the fight against heat.

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