Protect Yourself and Workers from Heat Stress
Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Construction workers are particularly susceptible to heat exposure due to long hours outside or working in rooms without climate control.
Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses and dizziness. Burns may also occur from accidental contact with hot surfaces, like overheated tools.
Ensuring that your body is regularly hydrated and protected from the sun during hot months is essential to maintaining balance for performing well at work. Workers need to be especially diligent in monitoring their heat levels now as COVID-19 safety protocols call for increased use of face coverings and spending more time outdoors.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has extensive resources to help keep workers safe in high-heat environments. The NIOSH resources include tips on how to recognize and prevent heat-related illness, how to acclimatize to heat, and a section on dealing with increased heat burden while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like face coverings, boots and gloves.
NIOSH has also teamed up with OSHA on a Heat Safety Tool app that can be downloaded to any smartphone. The app features real-time heat index and hourly forecasts, specific a user's location, as well as occupational safety and health recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH.
NAHB also has resources to keep residential construction workers safe in the heat. Visit the Heat Stress Video Toolbox Talk for a video and downloadable resources to help beat the heat.
The home building industry is booming right now thanks, in part, to the tireless efforts of NAHB and HBAs. But don't let the rapid pace of construction prevent you from protecting yourself and workers in the extreme summer heat.
For more information on safety resources, visit nahb.org.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
May 23, 2025
Volatile Spring Selling Season ContinuesSales of newly built, single-family homes in April increased 10.9% to a 743,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from a downwardly revised March number, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales in April was up 3.3% compared to a year earlier.
Material Costs
May 22, 2025
NAHB Members Cite Impact of Tariff Uncertainty on Home BuildingTariff uncertainty from the Trump administration continues to impact home builders across the country, as builders prepare for potential price hikes and supply chain issues. NAHB members have been sharing the impact that these tariffs are having with media outlets across the United States.
Latest Economic News
Economics
May 22, 2025
Existing Home Sales Fall in AprilDespite the brief retreat in mortgage rates and increased supply, existing home sales dropped to 7-month low in April, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This unexpected decline suggests buyers’ activity continues to be constrained by economic uncertainty and ongoing affordability challenges even with improved market conditions.
Economics
May 22, 2025
Income Growth Helps Mute Existing Affordability ConstraintsDespite solid income gains and lower home prices, Americans still continue to face major housing affordability challenges, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).
Economics
May 21, 2025
Gains for Multifamily Missing Middle over Last YearThe missing middle construction sector includes development of medium-density housing, such as townhouses, duplexes and other small multifamily properties.