Use NAHB Resources to Keep Workers Safe in Dangerous Heat
As heat waves move across wide areas of the United States, it is important for home builders and general contractors to have plans and resources in place to keep workers and subcontractors safe on the jobsite.
OSHA has also announced that it has begun a rulemaking on “heat injury and illness prevention” that may result in a new standard for construction. Although NAHB and its partners in the Construction Industry Safety Coalition are actively engaged in the process, home builders should be prepared for more stringent requirements in the near future.
NAHB has numerous resources available to residential construction professionals to help protect workers from excessive heat, including the video below and accompanying handout.
With such extreme early season heat, many workers will suffer from a lack of acclimatization, meaning their bodies simply are not yet accustomed to high heat. During this dangerous time, the most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Confusion, disorientation, slurred speech, unable to think clearly, collapse, unconsciousness or potential seizures.
- No sweating.
If a worker is experiencing heat stroke, cool them immediately and call 911.
More tips to keep workers safe on the jobsite can be found in the NAHB Heat Stress Safety Toolkit.
Sponsored by

Latest from NAHBNow
Sep 03, 2025
Project Funding Crisis: How Top Builders Secure Money When Others Can'tRelying solely on a traditional lender is risky in today’s environment. Smart builders line up more than one source of funding. That way, projects stay on track, crews keep working, and reputations stay solid.
Sep 03, 2025
How Building Codes Can – and Can’t – Help in FloodsCould enhanced building codes help save lives and property in flood-prone areas? Perhaps. But it is important to note there are already enhanced building codes required in flood zones.
Latest Economic News
Sep 03, 2025
Open Construction Jobs Rise in JulyThe count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry increased in July, per the June Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) as the national labor market cooled.
Sep 03, 2025
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area: Second Quarter 2025House price growth continued to slow in the second quarter of 2025, as the housing market faces mounting pressure from high mortgage rates, elevated inventory, and persistent economic uncertainty.
Sep 02, 2025
June Private Residential Construction Spending Edges HigherPrivate residential construction spending inched up 0.1% in June, registering the first monthly gain after six consecutive declines.