Employers in B.C. responsible for protecting workers from heat

Construction workers are pictured on a hot summer day. (Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic)

With temperatures expected to surpass 30 degrees across much of the province this week, WorkSafeBC is reminding employers that they are responsible for protecting their workers from heat-related illness.

People working both indoors and outdoors are at risk of developing heat stress and heat stroke, which can be life-threatening.

WorkSafeBC says those working outside, in fields such as construction, agriculture or transportation, are at higher risk.

However, working in kitchens, warehouses or manufacturing can also be hazardous, especially if those facilities don’t have any air conditioning.

Excess sweating, muscle cramps and nausea are all early signs of heat stress, along with weakness, fatigue and dizziness.

If these signs are not recognized and treated early, employees are at risk of developing heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The symptoms of these more serious heat disorders include increased or irregular heart rate, seizures, confusion and decreased consciousness and awareness.

“These illnesses are preventable, and employers have a responsibility to take steps to protect workers, whether they are indoors or outdoors,” said Todd McDonald, head of prevention services at WorkSafeBC, in a news release Tuesday.

WorksafeBC requires employers to conduct risk assessments specific to their workplace, and develop plans to protect workers from the heat.

Employers are encouraged to provide cool drinking water and rest breaks, set up shaded recovery areas and schedule more strenuous activities for cooler parts of the day. They should also rotate workers between hotter and cooler environments, and train them to recognize the early signs of heat stress.

WorkSafeBC accepted 335 heat-related injury claims between 2021 and 2025.