How to protect employees from heat and other climate extremes

The recent U.S. heat wave across the East, Midwest, and South highlights the urgent risks climate change poses to workers. With rising temperatures expected to increase in frequency and intensity, occupational heat exposure is now the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S., averaging 40 annually. Experts emphasize that most heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable through proper hydration, shade, rest, and revised work schedules.

Despite these known solutions, many employers underestimate the climate risk due to daily weather variability or a lack of long-term planning. The article stresses the need for organizations to adopt proactive, enforceable heat safety protocols aligned with ESG principles, including equitable access to resources, multilingual training, and flexibility during extreme conditions.

Beyond heat, climate change brings compound risks—wildfires, poor air quality, floods—that require comprehensive climate resilience plans. Employers are encouraged to collaborate with workers, HR teams, and unions to develop tailored disaster response strategies, ensure mental health and displacement support, and reduce emissions through sustainable business practices.

Ultimately, the article argues that corporate ESG commitments must go beyond wellness programs and focus on systemic protections that place human health above profits, particularly in vulnerable, labor-intensive sectors.

https://www.esgdive.com/news/extreme-heat-climate-change-workplace-safety-plan/753058/