Transcript:

Extreme heat can make people sick – and harm them in other ways too.

Alahmad: “Think about your ability to make decisions, your judgment, your hand-eye coordination, your balance.”

Barrak Alahmad is at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His team analyzed workplace injuries reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2023.

They found that injuries – like falls, burns, and cuts – were more likely on days when the heat index was higher than 85 degrees. And the risk climbed more sharply when it was hotter than 90.

Alahmad: “We found that the risk of injury increases by about 20% when the heat index is 110 Fahrenheit versus 80 Fahrenheit.”

And even people working indoors in industries like manufacturing and healthcare were more likely to be injured on hot days.

In some cases, a lack of air-conditioning could be to blame. In others, the causes may be less direct. For example, rates of violence go up during a heat wave, which could put emergency room personnel at greater risk of injury.

So as heat waves intensify, it will be important to understand the risks that workers face and take steps to protect them.

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media