Turner heat study finds workers at risk even on ‘ cooler ’ summer days
Zachary Phillips
Dive Brief :
■ A study looking at the effects of working outside in hot weather by New York Citybased Turner Construction discovered many workers ’ core body temperatures reached risky levels even on moderate summer days .
■ The heat pilot study , conducted over three days last summer with an average peak temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit , found that 43 % of the 33 workers monitored had core temperatures reach over 100.4 F , even in “ cooler than typical summer conditions .” OSHA lists 100.4 F as the benchmark for an elevated risk of heat stress .
■ In partnership with the University of New Mexico , Indiana University and La Isla Network — an Alpharetta , Georgiabased organization researching the effects of heat on workers — the study was designed to better understand how increased temperatures affect jobsite safety .
Dive Insight :
■ Prior to the study , participants swallowed a data collection device , which remained in their bodies for 24 hours . The object , the size of a pill , allowed researchers
12 DITCHMEN • JANUARY 2024