Public sentiment expresses significant concern regarding heat stress and its adverse effects on workers, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures and increased awareness. Commenters highlight the dire conditions faced by individuals working in extreme heat and advocate for systemic changes to safeguard worker wellbeing.

Employers

Health and Safety Regulators

Policymakers

I worked in an aluminum extrusion plant and if it was 85°F outside then it would be somewhere around 109°F around the press.  of course near the furnace or the aging oven it would be hotter. Using a lift to work on something in the ceiling you’re talking 130°F or higher.  

How does the company handle it?  Please…. The company wants you to do your job no matter what.  Every workstation has fans, but they just move around hot air.   The company doesn’t care about people.   They only care about the bottom line.   

I have been standing, still just tying wires together in the ceiling, and it would feel like rain falling on the back of my neck from the sweat dripping off of my hair onto my shoulders.   Our only reprieve was that the maintenance office had an air conditioner.

[deleted]

Work around aluminum furnaces and casters. Some places are hot enough you can’t touch tools with your bare hand after laying them down for few seconds. 

Have your stuff ready to go, get in, get it done, get out. Don’t try to over do it. 


Get use to it sucking.

110 doesn’t sound that bad, you can handle that for quite some time after you get acclimated. 

Now if you are overweight, it’s gona suck big time.

cossack1984

I used to work at a tire and rubber plant. Some areas were over 135F in the summer and a lot of steam heated presses were in use. As others have and will state, the company doesn't do anything to manage this, just try not to die. Don't work alone in extreme heat if at all possible.

Important_Contact609

Free water! 

Sometimes when I am in really really hot environments(130-160) I call my service manager and ask that he calls me every 15 minutes and send help if I don’t pickup. 

We have a thermal stress policy that dictates work:rest time durations based on heat index and any exacerbating factors and also has provisions for cooling PPE

badgertheshit

PET injection blow molding. Our building is not insulated or climate controlled. Last weekend it got to like 85 in the facility with a 45% humidity (yes we have to track humidity levels)

We mostly square dance (for air flow), drink tons of Gatorade and use those around the neck cooling towels.

Own_Butterscotch_445

Frequent breaks, watch each other for signs of heat stress (dry skin red flush) drink lots of water and those little electrolytes packages. And hiding in AC when it gets too much.

Stay hydrated. That’s the only answer. Your body will acclimate to the heat but you’ll need to drink ATLEAST half your body weight in ounces to stay hydrated. Eating a banana a day will help keep cramps away with potassium. And don’t drink alcohol the night before.

Jakesneed612

Steel mill here. We have working ac in every pulpit, and they run right down til -40. In the winter we head outside to cool off. In the summer... we try to cycle our breaks and keep Hella water available.

Sevulturus

Bakery....  it's already in the 80's here outside.  You can imagine from there.

I worked in an automotive glass factory.  Heat in the summer regularly over 100+ daily with humidity around 80% from all the heated washers.  Winter didn't matter, still 90-100 and still with the high humidity.  It was rarely comfortable to work in that building.  


I seen new hire groups go on their day 1 tour and at the first turn about 50 yards from the door they started at they turned around and quit on the spot.  It's not an easy environment to work in.



Heat mitigation?  What's that?  We can get a fan or those smelly ass swamp coolers to blow bacteria in your face.  


Best thing you could do to stay cool was drink lots of water and never go inside the break room or for me to go back to my desk.  Felt way too good and comfortable, step in the plant and it's like Mike Tyson punched you in the face with heat and humidity. 

Currently at a glass plant, I've never had a job that wasn't extremely hot in the summer. There's a bunch of motors we work on by the forhearth, and  that area is easily 120+. Replenish electrolytes and tons of water. It sucks working in the heat, but you do get used to it. 

Also if the company doesn't let you step away from the heat and have means to cooldown find a new job, heat can kill.

heavehoblow

I work in a blast furnace. It's always 130 out here. Hotter in the summer with tons of steam. You get used to it. But drink water.. and take a break when your body says so. Your stamina is not others. We all deal with heat differently. Good luck

jdubya525

They bust out the squincher. We make corrugated boxes so working around hot steam pipes when it's 90F outside you get drenched quick.

Hildedank

Worked as an industrial electrician in a glass manufacturing company for five years, cases of water brought in during the hottest times of the year, hydration popsicles and yeti coolers everywhere. Was one thing to work in the production side of things, another side of it was working next to two 1400 degree glass furnaces and batch delivery system. Real heat. No way to escape it. I equated it to what i would think hell feels like.

Spreaddeadhead

I worked in a cast iron foundry for awhile that had coolers for ice water and sqwincher (knock off gatorade) available for every department. They’d also have the popsicles (also sqwincher) and electrolyte tablets at the nurse’s station and you could check out ice vests from the stock room

Super_Tangerine_7202

We moved in a bunch of new equipment without upgrading HVAC and we ran around 100F for a couple years before we got more ac.  I found out I don't get used to it and I hate it and I will never be applying for a foundry job or anything else where it's over 90.  I'd rather go back to working in a freezer.  Cudos to you guys that work in that shit.  I hope you are compensated well.

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The heat doesn't bother me that much, but the fuckin sun can be absolutely brutal. I can work better in an attic than I can in UV 11 sunlight.

Marinius8

It’s always been, as you go into the hot months, you have to get acclimated. I have noticed as I’ve gotten older it has taken longer. But, it’s a gradual moving into another season. Definitely don’t get heat exhaustion or have a heat stroke.

Just-Inevitable-6262

My ability to even exist in the heat has been greatly affected. I never got swamp ass until I was in my mid thirties. It's all been downhill from there. To quantify though, I am an Irish ginger.

Jesta914630114

I always thought I'd want to live in the tropics as a kid. But now, living in Minnesota as an adult, I can't imagine living anywhere else. I can always bundle up in the winter, but I can't stand being outside when it's hot and humid.

quickblur

As a kid I played in the sun. Over the years my tolerance diminished considerably to the point where I cover up before I go out. Better, safer and more effective than sunscreen.

BoomBoomLaRouge

Absolutely,

I was a farmhand on my grandfather’s farm. Worked days in the blazing heat. Felt dizzy by the end of it but it always passed by next morning.

Now, the sun hits me hard for the rest of the day.  Just getting dazed being in the sun without shade; coaching my kid’s soccer team. And I’m drinking more water/wearing a hat. 

And right now, it’s only 88 F/31 C. 

Definitely a loss on how I used to handle heat.

Unfair-Pollution-426

100% yes. I was a contractor for years until I was early 30s and worked 12-16 hoyr days in the heat, 6-7 days a week. Late 40’s now, white collar, better physical shape, and the heat wrecks me now.

VA_Cunnilinguist

I’m more aware of how heat and humidity affect me, and modify my activity accordingly.

Absurdity_Everywhere

I get used to it as the summer goes on then lose it all during the winter lol

JMoon33

The bright sun makes me feel very hot. I tend to wear a white T-shirt when gardening in the summer and a white hat. If you're gonna work in one area, set up a 10 x 10 picnic tent over you.

hdatontodo

I thrived in the summer (always was a baby with cold), everyone would drop like flys and I’d be running circles. Last summer we had an unusually hot summer, and it killed me. This year, I’m already bitching and feeling sick. 38 happened, and my body has just started changing.

cannadaddydoo

I overheat like crazy now, doing light work even. I hate it...used to work in fields all day long.

I work as a blacksmith full time, so to me heat isn't a seasonal thing like other commenters are talking about with acclamation.

I am absolutely feeling the heat more as time goes by, but it's a bit odd. I can deal with intense heat radiation no problem. The limit is my skin turning red and slowcooking. I can sit in a sauna or steam bath for as long as I like and it's *bliss.*

But the combination of intense heat *and* intense work takes a bigger toll these days. Prior to 2022 I worked with a propane forge which would increase the temperature in the shop by 10 degrees Celsius easily. I once measured 46 Celsius in the forge, and I would stand in between the forge and where I took that measurement, with an infared thermometer. I would drink 4-5 liters during a work day and forge half naked, and I was fine.

These days I work with a coal forge, so the shop isn't much hotter than the outside temperature. I can get by with a cup of coffee. In winter I actually have to start the day wearing a sweater. But I sweat much more if I'm working intensely. I'll essentially be drenched within an hour.  
When I compete at the national championship I'll have saltlines on my safety boots from the sweat dripping down my work pants, due to how much I sweat in the span of a 3 hour competition. Two years ago I almost dropped out due to heat stroke. This was *never* an issue during the time of working in a 40+ celsius workshop.

I'm chalking it up to being in worse physical shape. I stopped working out due to an injury some 7 years ago - did a bit of working out again 3 years ago, but it has definitely caught up to me by now.

HammerIsMyName

YES

I’ve spent a HUGE portion of my life working (and playing!) outside, in all kinds of conditions.

Hit my mid thirties and BAM, I’ve had a large noticeable falloff in my ability to tolerate working in the heat, and the bitter cold.

My poor partner has to hear me complain about it all the time now.

The answer at any age is acclimatization. I lived in the Central Valley in CA where many days every summer are 100°+. The first few times that happened every May or June, going out on bicycle ride felt oppressive and would really knock me for a loop. After a week or so of riding in those temps it wouldn’t bother me. 

I moved to coastal WA 7 years ago and it’s the same: yesterday was the first day this year in the mid-70’s and riding my bike in the “heat” of the day felt similar to those 100° days.

aethocist

I work in a machine factory and it’s comfortable 8-9 months out of the year. But the summer months when it’s 85+ degrees regularly it means working in 100+ degrees all day. It can be draining. The work still feels the same, just sweaty. I’m not giving any extra effort or feeling negative effects of the heat. But when I get home and shower and sit down sometimes I’m just wiped out. Not sure exactly what working in the heat does but it only feels that way in the summer months.

JakeDuck1

I think my ability has stayed about the same; I’ve just gotten a lot better about being prepared for the heat. Now I make sure I’ve been drinking plenty of water before and during the activity, sunscreen, sunglasses…

SwimUpstream83

Yes, but my tolerance for cold has increased. Icy veins.

SignalEchoFoxtrot

I haven't noticed it, but I've never had tolerance for heat.

Angry_GorillaBS

No, actually better than when I was younger and spent more time indoors, now I am basically out all year doing all sorts of activities with my kids, and when I go through winter-spring into summer, the gradually rising temperatures seem to acclimatize me over time that I do not feel as bad in the heat.

Zxpipg

There’s a reason Arab cultures and Spanish culture both had the siesta. Some places get too fucking hot outside to work for part of the day so you’re better off eating a big meal and taking a nap to get back to work recharged later. Every time I think my heat tolerance is getting better because I’m working outside and sweating all day, turns out the weather wasn’t really hot, I just heat up quick from living in the same kind of cold weather as my Scandinavian ancestors.

SameAsThePassword

I don't understand it. I have MS so I'm supposed to have problems with heat, but I find it easier to run when it's 80 than it is when it's 40. I'm less tolerant of cold now, but that could be from years of having to sit for 8-10 hours in a room where it can't get above 70 for technological reasons.

TheJokersChild

Yes. I basically either ensure I'm in shade, or not work outside.

Junglebook3

Mine got better once I learned that being uncomfortable in the heat was all in my head.

I can’t even function in the heat now, never mind exert myself.

Reddit____user___

I had poor heat tolerance, but it was from low testosterone 

PsychologicalShop292

I tolerate the heat better now than when I was younger. I think it's an attitude thing.

davidm2232

WeathermanOnTheTown

Definitely. Especially if it’s hot with high humidity. That combo just kills me now.

PineapplePikza

I worked as a roofer in my younger years. I get migraines in the heat no matter how much water I drink. Even if im also taking electrolytes. I have to mow early morning otherwise my day is wasted with a headache. Pretty bum deal.

Queasy_Ad_7804

yeah your heat tolerance drops with age—your body's just not as efficient at cooling itself anymore  
blood flow, sweat response, even recovery all slow down  
so the same workload hits harder, lasts longer

plus your recovery system’s already juggling more stress, more inflammation, less sleep  
so yeah, it’s not in your head—it’s biology catching up

best move? shorter bursts, longer cool downs, and don’t treat hydration like a checkbox  
recovery becomes the real training

[**The NoFluffWisdom Newsletter**](https://NoFluffWisdom.com/Subscribe) has some no-bull takes on aging, endurance, and staying sharp when the body starts shifting worth a peek

Thin_Rip8995

I work outside so I do eventually get acclimated, but I still hate the heat and summer especially. I can work outside in freezing temperatures so much easier… but yes, I have noticed as I’ve gotten older that my tolerance for the heat has gotten less and less, and it takes longer to get acclimated

BespokeBonehead

Nope, can happily run around in 50oC heat, but my tolerance of humidity has dropped, not necessarily physically but definitely mentally.  Used to work.in the tropics no.problem when younger, but going back.to.it in my 50s drove me fucking insane

JayTheFordMan

Nah, I can run and be outside in very hot and humid temps much easier than cold.

Idrinkbeereverywhere

My old man at 60 started having heart attacks in the heat. But he also didn't exercise or take care of himself. 

Consider getting a garmin watch with heat acclimation as a measuring tool. Might help you.

MountainDadwBeard

I don't know if it bothers me or I'm just smarter about staying out of the heat of the day. I do my workouts early morning or later in the early evening, when they're outside. No pt beating myself up with the heat.

  
Today, my hiking buddy and I did our annual hike of this ridiculous local hike around a lake with major elevation changes. Doing it, this yr, in cooler temps and earlier in the day saw me breeze through it at a higher pace, higher heart rate, etc. but feeling fresh at the end. Conversely, last yr, same hike in the heat of the day we were beaten up and done for the day right after.

KickGullible8141

My ability to work has lessened with age. Should’ve stayed in school rather than going from blue collar job to blue collar job my whole life.

LittleMint677

Mine has increased as I have lost 40 lbs and do a lot of outside exercise.

No, but I’ve always been able to work in the heat.  I grew up working construction, and outdoors.  I spent 15 years in a 43°F cutting room when I was a butcher.  Then 16 years in a factory that was 30-40° hotter in summer than outside.

kalelopaka

I feel like my ability to tolerate things is more than it used to be, but my willingness to tolerate them is much less. However, I'm in much better physical and cardiovascular shape then I ever was in my youth. 

Is someone dying? No? Why am I pushing myself so hard to get this done in this time window. I'll get back out tomorrow morning or I'll set up some lights and finish off when the sun is going down.

IndicationDefiant137

I do better in heat the older I get. 47 right now

SnooMacarons3689

YES, the heat gets to me a lot quicker now than it did when I was younger

Icy_Huckleberry_8049

I'm in my 50s &amp; I definitely feel it more than I used to. Could have to do with multiple bouts of heat exhaustion &amp; very near heat stroke a couple of times.

Ashamed_Excitement57

Isn’t this why so many older people die in heat waves? Just a sh*t aspect of ageing I guess 🤷‍♂️

nope you have to be sun adapted buddy, i been in the sun everyday since 2022, i actually do better in the sun than a closed door to a degree, i dont get sunburn anymore just turn brown lmao!

Standard-Judgment459

Grew up in central Florida, worked outside in the swamps every summer starting at age 13. Moved to New England, work in a machine shop with no AC in the summer. It gets very hot. I also spend a lot of my free time in the woods riding my bike in the heat. I don't have AC in my old jeep, either.

I'm tall and thin so that helps. But I've always found a combo of water and calories to help. I drink lots of water and Liquid IV, especially when welding. My secret weapon is gummy bears. Simple calories that go straight to your blood stream. Helps for hillclimbing up 10% grades, as well. A little here, a little there.

A light, protein packed lunch helps. Whether it's a bologna and cheese sammach or sardines and brown rice with veg, I don't overdo it.

Stretch breaks and siestas also help me. Drink a double before your nap, crash on a lamppost for 15, and get back at it when the espresso kicks in.

Not with age, but weight. 

I dropped a lot of weight and could handle heat no problem. 

Put some back on, struggle came back.

Lose it again, hot weather is great. 

That stair master is overestimating your calories burned, if you get my drift.

neanderthalman

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Anecdotally, but I live in a VERY hot country. I find that if I spend even a few minutes outside when it's 45-50'C and in direct sunlight, I get exhausted almost instantly and need to rest.

Sciencetist

DauOfFlyingTiger

Finally something that might make industry worry about climate change.

walkwalkjogjog

So at about 140°C productivity drops to zero.

ghazwozza

em_baconmann

Factories in cold places make you want to stay indoors.  Factories in warmer places will have you itching to leave.

oojacoboo

Not sure how large air conditioning works. But ACs are basically dehumidifiers.

But The hotter it is… the more you gotta run that sucker… so you end up with really dry air… kinda sucks for breathing…your eyes strain faster and lips/skin suffer.

Hopefully most places have a humidifier combo with the AC.

Guesstimationish

Did you factor humidity for evaporation rates?

I can agree with this working in the auto industry. Very hard to keep production up when the factory is so hot that it makes it hard to breathe.

Slylok

I’ve linked to the press release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article: 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10640-023-00803-4

mvea

But that "Nobel" prize winner said climate change has low impact on productivity since most of the work is done inside!

grynhild

Excited for more in this thrilling brand of research that will be used to worsen conditions for workers

tehjburz

So… uh… China… great job and everything finding this out and everything… but… you’re literally shipping hundreds of thousands of TONS of coal to power your cities… so… like… you know… do something else? Since you found this out…?

Drunk-Sail0r82

Usual  caveat - China is not necessarily representative of the rest of the world.

AllanfromWales1

Just whip the wageslaves, they'll soon forget how tired they are.

primalshrew

Could that be because of people take time off work to spend time with their families? Like going to the lake, camping, swimming, etc?

anonimitydept

This might be caused by the presence of Legionaire's disease (bacteria See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionnaires%27\_disease) that are known to grow in air conditioning systems. When the heat goes up, the statistical presence of Legioinaires disease  will also go up and reduce productivity.

Zentropov

It's interesting they found this coleration linear ID think it'd be exponential

Valphai

Corporate slaves wishing to feel some warmth in their capitalist dystopia

Critical-End-Me

Anecdotally, it's never hot where I live, but warm weather decreases my productivity to zero, because when it's remotely warm I go to the beach to make the most of it.

BuscadorDaVerdade

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OSHA might send a letter to your employer asking about the circumstances, but given they see people toiling in the sun in higher temperatures, I wouldn't expect a dramatic response.

KTX77625

I am the safety manager in a foundry.  That would be considered a cool day for us.  The breaks would be the main issue.

Bucky2015

Heat Stress has been a notoriously difficult hazard to legislate and enforce. 

At one point OSHA developed a standard only for it to be scrapped almost immediately by politicians and lawyers. 

The sad fact is there are people doing much hotter jobs that basically make 80s and 90s kitchens when not exposed to the sun with ready access to water, in comparison not as dangerous. 

You’ve got constriction and metal foundry plants, warehouses, and road crews and industrial farmers working under the sun, without ready access to water, and the standards - best practices - because there isn’t a regulation really are written to those and providing water and rest breaks and some kind of ventilation is as far as they go. 

Air conditioning just isn’t a requirement, you can’t say restaurants have to have air conditioning and then say metal foundry workers and warehouse workers don’t need air conditioning, all would need it, and as far as OSHA and safety laws go, they always have a check on them by lawyers and politicians protecting entire industries.

So sure a complaint may in best case scenario get OSHA to come by and make sure everyone has rest breaks and water and fans, but you aren’t getting air conditioning by threat of OSHA enforcement.

flarbas

I feel like this article shouldn’t be paywalled.

https://archive.is/20250623190735/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/working-in-the-heat-wave-here-are-your-rights-in-ontario-to-stay-safe-from/article_e403ed94-4a0c-4a47-8781-f460120ee92a.html

RicketyRidgeDweller

As a construction guy doing construction things here in Ontario, these laws are meaningless. They are vaguely worded intentionally so that employers and contractors don't actually have to do a god damn thing, yet they sound like they have workers' best interests in mind.  Just do a bit of a reading into all the exceptions that exist to labour laws for construction folks.

NotInCanada

That's an awful lot of words to say not much of anything.

If your employer provides fans to move the air, cold water to ease the heat, or increases the frequency of breaks, then basically, get to work.  You can call in sick, but if you show up, yeah . . . your working.

Antman013

Hopefully I can just bring the cold chardonnay to the office.

RoyallyOakie

It's called a sick call. I wouldn't work outside in this.

Jingleberyy

https://www.ohcow.on.ca/heat-stress-toolkit/

Resources and heat/humidity calculator for workers in Ontario

Conscious-Big-5555

A WHO and WMO report highlights rising health risks due to extreme heat in workplaces, calling for urgent action to protect workers.

Climate Change and Workplace Heat Stress

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