Keeping workers safe is a growing challenge in a rapidly warming world. The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2013, with 2023 breaking thermometers as the hottest year ever, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Phoenix suffered 31 straight days of 110 degrees or higher in 2023, shattering the old record by 13 days; some projections show the Arizona city facing 102 days a year of extreme heat by 2050.
For workers, searing temperatures can increase the risk of conditions such as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration. Heat-related illnesses can lead to a higher risk of hospitalization for heart disease, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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