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The Business Case: Why Extreme Weather Matters for OHS
Extreme weather affects the metrics that occupational health and safety teams are measured on. Understanding and managing these growing risks is smart business.
The impacts of extreme weather on worker health and safety are driving injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. An estimated 2.4 billion workers worldwide, 71% of the global workforce, face excessive heat exposure (World Health Organization, 2025). In the U.S., 82% of workers have been impacted by a weather-related disruption at work in the past year (Northwind Climate*, March 2026).
These hazards land in the OHS domain, and they're driving up injuries, costs, and compliance risk.
Injury risk spikes well below traditional "danger" temperature thresholds. The risk of all types of workplace injuries begins to rise at temperatures as low as 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Long before heat exhaustion, elevated temperatures can impair hand-eye coordination, balance, cognitive ability, and muscle fatigue, leading to falls, exhaustion, and decreased attention, for example. In 2023, approximately 28,000 workplace injuries of all types in the U.S. were linked to heat exposure above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (Environmental Health, 2025).
Over 70% of heat fatalities occur during a worker's first week on the job. Approximately half occur on the first day. This is a direct, preventable failure of onboarding and acclimatization systems (OSHA).
Official counts dramatically understate the problem. Heat illnesses are routinely misclassified as cardiac events, falls, or other causes; that means heat-related incidents may already be in your logs — just labeled as something else (Environmental Health, 2025).
The highest-risk workers face staggering fatality rates. Agricultural workers die from heat at 20 times the general workforce rate (J Agromedicine, 2010). Construction workers follow at 13 times the average (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018). Workers in warehousing, delivery, utilities, and emergency response also face significantly elevated risk.
Direct and Indirect Costs Are Escalating
Heat-induced productivity losses cost the U.S. economy over $100 billion annually. This number is projected to reach $500 billion by 2050 (Atlantic Council, 2021). Globally, the International Labour Organization projects losses equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs by 2030 (International Labour Organization, 2019).
Every heat incident carries a hefty price tag. The average business cost per heat-related workplace incident is $37,000 (National Safety Council). The National Safety Council values a workplace fatality at $1.46 million (National Safety Council, 2023).
Health care utilization is increasing. Among people with chronic kidney disease, overall weekly health care use increases with greater exposure to hotter days, and kidney-related emergency department visits rise, especially for people least likely to have air conditioning (Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2025).
Prevention pays. La Isla Network's field study found that structured heat protection interventions delivered a 60% return on investment, with 80% fewer hospitalizations and 10% to 20% increased productivity (La Isla Network, 2025). Additionally, financial leaders estimate a $2 to $4.41 return for every dollar invested in workplace safety programs (National Safety Council).
The Regulatory Landscape Is Shifting
OSHA's proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard would apply to approximately 36 million workers if passed. Regardless of whether the federal standard is enacted, weather-related work protection requirements are expanding. Seven states already enforce permanent heat standards, including California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Organizations that invest in readiness ahead of regulations will reap the benefits of healthier workers now and will face fewer disruptions down the line when new rules take effect.
*This survey was conducted by Northwind Climate in partnership with the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, the strategic advisory board that supports Extreme Weather + Work.
Workforce readiness requires coordination across teams. Explore guides designed for more functions at your organization, and learn more about the Extreme Weather + Work initiative.
Human Resources (HR) Readiness strategies for HR focus areas including benefits design, leave policies, people analytics, and more.
Extreme Weather + Work Home Learn how your organization can support workers before, during, and after extreme weather.
About Extreme Weather + Work
Extreme Weather + Work is an initiative of the Health Action Alliance. We bring together leaders who rarely sit in the same room and connect them with peers across industries, giving them the research and tools they need to support their people before, during, and after extreme weather.
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