A new report from the New York State Insurance Fund highlights the dramatic increase to the risk of injury workers face with high temperatures — a burgeoning threat to workplace safety as heat waves become more frequent and intense due to the climate crisis.
The insurance fund, which is the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, said analysis of roughly 95,000 claims filed by season between 2017 and 2021 found “a significant correlation of both the number and severity of injuries” on days with temperatures that are classified as extreme heat by the National Weather Service.
On such days, when the temperature is at or above 80 degrees, injuries on average were 45% more likely and 20% more costly in terms of medical expenses compared to days with lower temperatures, according to the insurance fund’s analysis.
A variety of workers are at risk, but those who work outdoors in construction, transportation, farming, manufacturing, emergency response and health care are particularly vulnerable, according to the insurance fund.
The data points are particularly worrying as New York has broken weather records with each passing year. In 2023, New York City logged its hottest year on record, according to National Weather Service data. The summer of 2023, in fact, was hotter than any other in the Northern Hemisphere for the past 2,000 years, according to a study published Tuesday in Nature.
Climate-related hazards, such as extreme temperatures, poor air quality and increased allergens, can cause or worsen respiratory and cardiovascular illness, food- and water-borne diseases and mental health conditions.
For instance, dehydration can injure the kidneys and impact blood pressure, and heat exhaustion if left untreated can lead to heat stroke and brain injury. Heat stress can also worsen heart and lung conditions and even result in death.
New York currently lacks heat safety standards for workers. A handful of states including California, Colorado and Washington have such worker protections in place.
But a bill introduced in Albany last year by Queens state Senator Jessica Ramos proposes mandatory protections for employers in construction, shipping, agriculture and other industries when the mercury rises to 80 degrees or higher.
Under the legislation, employers would have to provide water, breaks, protective gear and shade. The bill mandates comparable measures for cooler conditions at or below 60 degrees.
To date, the bill has stalled. Ramos and worker safety advocates have acknowledged that the legislation faces an uphill battle with employer pushback, particularly over temperature thresholds and the potential inclusion of independent contractors.
Caroline Spivack , 2024-05-15 19:38:11
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