Nellie Brown

Director of Workplace Health & Safety Programs

Nellie Brown is an industrial hygienist and the director of workplace health and safety programs for Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She says employers need a heat alert program; preplanning makes a big difference. 

Brown says:

“For outdoor workers, there are heat stress apps for cellphones which can provide warnings and advice: OSHA/NIOSH Heat Index app and the AIHA Heat Stress app. These can work with your local temperature and humidity to provide advisories. Typical best practices are to avoid work in the hottest time of the day and re-schedule it to cooler times of day. 

“Acclimatization is very important – the body needs several days to adjust to performing physically-demanding work during high heat conditions. Gradually increasing the workload over several days is necessary. Unfortunately, gig workers may feel that they have no choice but to work or make deliveries, etc. regardless of the heat because they need the income, despite the risks to their health and safety.

“Trends toward increasingly warming temperatures at night are causing people to fall asleep later, rise earlier, and overall sleep less. Reduced sleep quality during hot nights decreases cognitive function the following day, resulting in irrational and impulsive behavior. Workplace violence has been shown to increase with heat as behavior becomes more aggressive.

“Extreme heat has cost the U.S. economy billions in lost productivity as it has made it harder for people to do their jobs. Prevention is usually less expensive than addressing the adverse results after the fact. Being proactive improves morale and makes employees feel valued.”