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High temperatures can be dangerous to people at work and can lead to injuries, illnesses, and even death. Exposure to environmental heat led to 37 work-related deaths and 2,830 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in 2015. Thirty-three of the 37 fatal work injuries caused by exposure to environmental heat occurred in the summer months of June through September. Texas and California had the highest number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses with days away from work in 2015. Kansas and South Carolina had the highest rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses from environmental heat.
Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses caused by exposure to environmental heat, 2015
State
Number
Rate per 10,000 workers
Kansas
140
1.3
South Carolina
150
1.0
Nebraska
40
0.6
Georgia
180
0.5
Arizona
110
0.5
Arkansas
50
0.5
New Mexico
30
0.5
Delaware
20
0.5
Texas
340
0.4
Kentucky
60
0.4
North Carolina
110
0.3
Virginia
100
0.3
Maryland
60
0.3
Louisiana
50
0.3
Alabama
40
0.3
Oregon
40
0.3
California
270
0.2
Illinois
80
0.2
Pennsylvania
80
0.2
Washington
60
0.2
Wisconsin
50
0.2
Missouri
40
0.2
Tennessee
40
0.2
Connecticut
20
0.2
Iowa
20
0.2
New York
40
0.1
Indiana
30
0.1
New Jersey
20
0.1
Note: States not shown did not participate in the survey in 2015 or the data were not reported or did not meet publication criteria.
Transportation and material moving occupations accounted for 720 nonfatal cases with days away from work that resulted from exposure to environmental heat in 2015. That was one-fourth of the total cases caused by environmental heat exposure.
Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses caused by exposure to environmental heat, selected occupations, 2015
Occupation
Number
Transportation and Material Moving
720
Production
390
Protective Service
350
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
330
Construction and Extraction
280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
150
These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more, see "Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work, 2015" (HTML) (PDF) and "National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2015" (HTML) (PDF). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has more information on heat safety from their Heat Illness Prevention Campaign.
United States Department of Labor
