Paduda: The Cost of Heat

Wednesday, July 19, 2023 | 0

While ignoramuses continue to deny we humans are changing the planet’s climate, folks with profit and loss responsibilities are calculating the cost of heat and heat-related injuries.

Joe Paduda

The direct cost of one “heat prostration” claim is about $38,000.

The average company has to generate $1.2 million in revenue to cover each heat prostration claim.

Want specifics?

Excessive heat also creates more injuries of all types. Injuries to cherry harvesters in Washington state increase 1.5% for every 1 degree Celsius above 25 Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), mostly from falling off ladders.

California data shows that, compared to days with temperatures in the 60s, when the temperature was between 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, the overall risk of ALL types of workplace injuries was 5% to 7% higher. When temperatures topped 100 degrees, the overall risk of injuries was 10% to 15% greater.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a very handy calculator employers can use to estimate their costs — especially useful for the half of the country broiling under record temperatures.

Oh, and the workers most affected by heat? That would be the lowest-paid workers, those least able to afford time away from work. You know, the ones the work comp industry should be “advocating” for.

What does this mean for you?

Ignore science at your financial peril.

Joseph Paduda is co-owner of CompPharma, a consulting firm focused on improving pharmacy programs in workers’ compensation. This column is republished with his permission from his Managed Care Matters blog.