A heat pilot study by New York City-based Turner Construction, in partnership with the University of New Mexico, Indiana University and La Isla Network, examined the effects of working outside in hot weather and found many workers’ core body temperatures reached risky levels even on moderate summer days, according to Construction Dive. The study was designed to better understand how increased temperatures affect job-site safety.
The study was conducted for three days during the summer of 2023 with an average peak temperature of 88 F. Before the study, participants swallowed a data collection device, which remained in their bodies for 24 hours and allowed researchers to continuously monitor internal body temperature. Each worker participated for only one day.
The study found 43% of the 33 workers monitored had core temperatures reaching higher than 100.4 F even in “cooler than typical summer conditions.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists 100.4 F as the benchmark for an elevated risk of heat stress.
Researchers said if elevated core temperatures were prolonged, they could result in permanent damage to a worker’s health.
“The findings demonstrate that in periods of extreme hot weather, such as during heat waves, construction workers are at substantial risk of heat-related health issues,” said Fabiano Amorim, associate professor at University of New Mexico, and Zachary Schlader, associate professor at Indiana University, who were the lead researchers on the study. “This research emphasizes the urgent need for strategies to protect the health and safety of construction workers.”
Researchers also found most workers already were dehydrated when they arrived at the job site.
“Knowing that, we have a really clear opportunity to do direct outreach about hydrating outside of work,” said Monika Serrano, resilience project manager at Turner Construction.
