Heat-related illness is the leading cause of weather-related death in the United States. More than 70,000 employees became ill from heat exposure between 1992 and 2019, and heat illness can lead to over 30 worker deaths annually since 2003. Over 30 workers have died annually from heat-related illnesses since 2003.
On April 10, 2026, OSHA revised and extended the Heat NEP for five years, targeting construction and other high-risk sectors. Even though OSHA’s proposed rule was published on August 30, 2024, and remains unfinalized, employers can be cited under the General Duty Clause this summer. In the Carolinas, outdoor temperatures, humidity, direct sunlight, radiant heat, and personal protective equipment make hot weather a job-site hazard.
OSHA is running two tracks: enforcement now and rulemaking next. The OSHA heat rulemaking covers construction, outdoor, and indoor work settings where heat injury risk exists.
The proposed framework uses an initial heat trigger at an 80°F heat index and high heat procedures at 90°F. California’s indoor heat standard took effect on July 23, 2024; so did its indoor heat illness standard, signaling where regulation is headed nationally.
Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Greenville-Spartanburg, and coastal South Carolina routinely see heat index values above 90°F from May through September. At 88°F with high humidity, the felt temperature can enter the mid-90s.
Risk rises in roofing, concrete, steel erection, highway work, utility vaults, mechanical rooms, warehouses, and other hot environments. Heat stress increases fatigue, rework, workers’ compensation claims, and schedule pressure.
A prevention plan must be site-specific and accessible. Each illness prevention plan should include the following elements:
Name a Heat Safety Coordinator in the plan. This may be a superintendent, foreman, or safety director who has completed expert construction safety training.
That person should monitor conditions, confirm shade and cooling-down areas, maintain communication, encourage employees to drink water frequently, and protect workers by stopping work when needed. Monitoring should include frequent checks of communications during high-heat procedures.
The heat index combines temperature and humidity. Your site process should state who checks forecasts, who takes on-site readings, and how controls are logged.
At 80°F, begin heat illness prevention. At 90°F, implement mandatory cool-down rest periods when the heat index rises, and move heavy tasks to the coolest parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon.
At 80°F, employers should:
At 90°F, high heat procedures should include:
An effective heat illness prevention plan includes hydration and shaded rest. Shade structures must accommodate all resting workers and block direct sunlight.
Provide cool water near work areas, maintain supplies, and document the locations of water, shade, and rest areas on the site map.
Nearly three out of four heat-related fatalities occur during a worker’s first week, and 50 to 70 percent of outdoor fatalities occur in the first few hot days. Heat acclimatization is vital for workers unaccustomed to heat.
Acclimatization helps prevent heat-related illnesses in new workers.
Employers must provide mandatory training for heat exposure, aligning with broader safety and management education priorities.
Training must include early recognition of symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Train workers and supervisors on:
| Condition | Symptoms | Emergency Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Exhaustion | Heavy sweating, nausea, dizziness, headache, weakness, fast pulse | Move to a cool area, provide water, rest, and monitor for progression to heat stroke |
| Heat Stroke | Confusion, collapse, seizures, very high body temperature, convulsions, fainting | Treat as a 911 emergency, move the worker to a cool area, apply cool water, start first aid, call for emergency medical aid |
Heat illness prevention plans must include emergency response procedures. Employers should document:
Drill the response before extreme heat arrives.
Heat illness prevention belongs in JHAs, pre-task plans, audits, incident reviews, and near-miss reporting. Participation in programs such as the Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) can support these efforts. Use ABC Carolinas’ Building a Safety First Culture in Construction resource to connect heat controls with broader occupational safety systems and a healthy work environment.
For North Carolina and South Carolina contractors, heat is now a compliance, workforce, and margin issue. ABC Carolinas advances construction excellence across the Carolinas by helping members address operational and safety challenges. Poor controls can lead to OSHA citations, lost-time incidents, overtime, quality defects, delayed milestones, and weaker bid competitiveness.
The firms that protect employees effectively will protect productivity.
ABC Carolinas helps commercial contractors develop practical safety programs for Carolina jobsites, supported in part by its annual sponsorship program. Through ABC Carolinas membership, members can use safety training, certification programs, toolbox resources, and regional guidance to build a heat illness prevention plan before the next inspection.
Register for ABC Carolinas safety training and construction safety, networking, and educational events this week, review your current plan, and update every active site for 2026 heat exposure.
Yes. OSHA’s NEP is active, and a written plan helps employers demonstrate they recognized and controlled heat hazards under the General Duty Clause. Joining through the ABC Carolinas membership application can provide templates and peer examples.
Yes. Asphalt, concrete, humidity, and radiant heat can keep the site hot after dark, so monitor the heat index for every shift.
You need heat-specific guidance. Protective clothing and personal protective equipment can increase heat stress, so the plan should explain approved cooling options without removing required protection.
