National Heat Photo Contest Introduction Page

Heat Illness Prevention Campaign - National Heat Contest | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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National Heat Contest

From April 19 through June 9, 2023, OSHA sponsored a Beat the Heat Contest to raise
awareness of the dangers and hazards of heat exposure in both indoor and outdoor workplaces.
Raising awareness of heat hazards is an important step in educating workers and employers on
how to recognize when heat is affecting workers’ health and safety, and how to protect workers
from the dangers of exposure to hazardous heat.
The contest’s focus on educating stakeholders on the dangers of hazardous heat is important
because heat is the leading weather-related killer and is becoming more dangerous as 18 of the
last 19 years were the hottest on record. Excessive heat can cause heat illnesses and even death
if not treated properly. It also exacerbates existing health problems like asthma, kidney failure, and
heart disease. Workers in agriculture and construction are at highest risk for getting heat illness,
but the problem affects all workers exposed to heat, including indoor workers without climatecontrolled environments. People of color and people with lower incomes often work in industries
which increase the likelihood of being exposed to heat as a hazard. Essential jobs where
employees are exposed to high levels of heat are disproportionately held by people of color.
https://www.osha.gov/heat/national-heat-contest[5/8/2024 3:48:22 PM]

Heat Illness Prevention Campaign - National Heat Contest | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, heat stress killed 815 U.S. workers and seriously
injured more than 70,000 workers from 1992 through 2017. However, this is likely a vast
underestimate given that injuries and illnesses are underreported in the U.S., especially in the
sectors employing vulnerable and often undocumented workers. Furthermore, heat is not always
recognized as a cause of heat-induced injuries or deaths and can easily be misclassified because
many of the symptoms overlap with other more common diagnoses.

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Heat Illness Prevention Campaign - National Heat Contest | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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