WCRI: Work Accidents Increase With Excessive Heat

The probability of work-related accidents increases 5% to 6% when temperatures rise above 90 degrees, and the effect of workplace heat is stronger in the southern U.S. and in the construction industry, according to a report released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The report, “Impact of Excessive Heat on the Frequency of Work-Related Injuries,” used workers' compensation claim data from 2016 to 2021 across 24 states. Researchers looked at work injuries caused by direct and indirect heat exposure. Direct heat exposure involves the effect of heat on a w...