With heat indexes soaring into the triple digits across Minnesota and Wisconsin last weekend, construction crews are prioritizing heat safety on the job site, using shade, hydration, and frequent breaks to prevent illness and injury. Experts say this summer’s extreme temperatures are testing both endurance and policy.

"The safety and the health of our workers is number one, so we want to make sure they have what they need," said Dan Burazin, director of health and safety for the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee. "In some cases, if it’s too hot to work, some crews will pack up and go home until it’s safe to work again."

The industry is on high alert. July 2024 saw the Biden administration propose a workplace heat rule via OSHA requiring employers to implement plans to control and evaluate heat exposure risks. While supported by many safety advocates, contractor groups like the Associated Builders and Contractors and the Associated General Contractors pushed back, urging for a more adaptable framework. They’ve argued against a “one size fits all” regulation, citing varying regional conditions.

In 2021–2022, environmental heat exposure led to 620 construction-related injuries and 29 deaths, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. OSHA officials suspect many cases go unreported.

In lieu of a finalized rule, OSHA’s “Water, Rest, Shade” campaign offers interim guidance. “OSHA can also issue citations to violators through its emphasis program,” noted Don Moen, HR and safety director at the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin.

Moen emphasized the need for acclimatization protocols for returning workers: “Workers should start their first day working around 20% at full intensity in the heat and build up another 20% each day.” He added that workers should drink water every 20 minutes during hot conditions.

Construction sites are responding in creative ways. “I see a lot of, for example, concrete people who will have tents which will be there for breaks out of the sun,” Moen said. Some even allow workers to cool off inside air-conditioned vehicles or trailers. Others are relying on the buddy system to help catch early signs of heat stress.

“There’s no penalty for self-reporting that you have a problem,” Burazin added. “I don’t know any superintendent and foreman that would tell you to get back to work.”

At job sites like the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, safety standards are clear: workers who run out of water are sent home. “It really hits home when you get into 90s,” Burazin said. “Even in 60-degree weather you have water out there.”

The construction industry’s focus on heat safety reflects a broader national conversation around how climate change is reshaping workplace standards. With climate models predicting longer and hotter summers, both policymakers and industry leaders are under pressure to address rising heat risks—especially in sectors like construction where outdoor exposure is constant.

While federal regulations remain in development, regional contractors are setting their own proactive measures in motion, using a mix of OSHA recommendations, mobile apps like the Heat Safety Tool, and supervisor-led monitoring to detect early symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or cramps.

The divide between policy and practice is also evident in the ongoing debate over flexibility. Midwest contractors emphasize the need for site-specific solutions—what works for a Milwaukee high-rise might not apply to a rural road crew near Duluth.

Still, everyone agrees on one point: keeping workers hydrated, shaded, and rested is not just good practice—it’s lifesaving.

Originally reported by Ethan Duran in Finance-Commerce.