In parts one and two of this series, we discussed how climate change and the trajectory of longer, hotter summers is impacting worker health and safety. If you have employees who work outdoors or in hot conditions indoors, implementing a three-step, risk-based approach for managing heat illness at your place of work can help you better protect its employees.
Now, we'll explore the importance of introducing worker well-being initiatives to drive a stronger workforce.
Step 3: Worker well-being initiatives lead to a stronger workforce
Many studies show that companies invested in safety programs also have more productive and loyal workforces. Increasingly, employees are considering safety and wellness programs in their decision to join or leave a company.
Metlife’s 20th annual US employee benefit trends study highlights the rise of the “whole employee,” reiterating that the disruptions of the last few years have caused many individuals to reevaluate their work/life goals and suggest an emphasis on holistic health efforts from employers has become a top priority. This not only includes employer wellness programs such as physical fitness and mental health services, but also robust safety compliance programs. In this way, a heat illness prevention program would serve as a key component of a broader well-being program.
Recent technology advancements are making it easier for organizations to implement heat illness mitigation measures. For example, cooling vests help lower body temperature, advanced clothing fabrics and personal protective equipment (PPE) offer cooling properties, new mobile apps monitor weather conditions and heat indices in real-time, and wearable smart-monitors measure body temperature to ensure workers receive substantial rest time.
As climate change continues to disrupt our world, companies must be proactive in assessing workers’ heat illness risk and invest in and integrate these health and safety initiatives into a robust well-being program.
This series was originally published online by Occupational Health & Safety Magazine on September 24, 2021 under the title: Climate Change vs. Worker Health: How Companies can Protect Employees amid Rising Climate Temperatures and Comply with New OSHA Directive on Heat Illness Prevention. The content has been updated for this blog series.
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