Fired Up! National Week of Heat Action

With summer in full swing, Virginia is expecting high temperatures that could place workers at risk. August 10^th-16^th is the Council for Occupational Safety and Health’s (COSH) National Week of Heat Action, and during this week we encourage employers and employees to educate themselves and each other about the dangers of heat illness at work.

How Often Do we see Heat Illness at Work in Virginia?

From 2023-2024 we saw workers in service occupations suffer from the highest rates of heat illness cases in the Commonwealth followed by transportation and material moving workers.

The graph below demonstrates the number of cases with occupational exposure to heat cases each year in Virginia that resulted in an employee missing work from 2015-2024 (DAFW=Days Away from Work):

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

How can we prevent heat illness?

Preventing heat illness is possible by facilitating early interventions. Be sure to talk with your team regularly, provide training for any new staff, and allow time for workers to gradually become more comfortable working in hotter environments.

1. Cool the environment: Make sure that water and electrolytes are available and that shade or A/C areas are nearby for workers to access.
2. Cool the workload: Schedule hot tasks for earlier in the day when temperatures are lower and adjust the rest/work cycles accordingly.
3. Cool yourself: Make sure to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and hats when necessary and remove unnecessary layers when it is safe to do so.

Remember, someone who has had a heat event in the past is at a permanent higher risk of having another, so anyone with this experience should be extra careful to avoid heat stress.

Regional Factors:

In counties near the Atlantic and in the mountains, humidity causes steam heat to create even hotter temperatures, while in larger Virginia cities, urban heat islands are formed by high concentrations of concrete and asphalt, making heat illness prevention a statewide issue. See the Virginia Specific Heat Index Chart in the appendix for more information specific to your region.

Voluntary Protective Program Resources:

For more information about employers’ responsibilities regarding heat hazards, visit our website at https://doli.virginia.gov/resources/safety-health-hazard-topics/. Here you will find training resources for your team, heat safety toolkits, and other important information to help you keep yourself and others safe from the dangers of heat illness.  

Resources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
https://www.bls.gov/data

George Mason University: “The Virginia Climate Assessment”
https://www.vaclimate.gmu.edu/virginia-climate-assessment/chapters

OSHA: Heat Illness Prevention
https://www.osha.gov/heat

VIRGINIA‑SPECIFIC HEAT INDEX SUMMARY CHART

Typical Summer Heat Index Conditions and Associated Risk Levels

This chart summarizes typical heat index ranges observed across Virginia during summer months (June–September), incorporating regional humidity patterns and National Weather Service (NWS) risk categories. These values illustrate why heat illness can occur rapidly in Virginia’s climate, especially during high humidity events.

Virginia Summer Heat Index Ranges (Typical Conditions)

Sources: National Weather Service Heat Index Chart; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (Virginia Climate Normals); Virginia State Climatology Office; Southeast Regional Climate Center.

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