New Best Practices Help Firms Strengthen Heat Illness Prevention and Heat Stress Awareness
As summer winds down in North America, the importance of heat safety does not disappear. Many geoprofessionals continue working outdoors during warm fall conditions, while indoor environments such as laboratories, warehouses, equipment facilities, and other non-air-conditioned spaces can present heat-related hazards throughout the year.
To help firms strengthen prevention efforts and support safer operations, the GBA Safety Committee has released two new Best Practices resources: Heat Illness Prevention and Regulatory Landscape and Protect Yourself from Heat Stress. These resources provide practical guidance for both firm leaders and employees who manage or work in environments where heat exposure is a concern.
The first resource, Heat Illness Prevention and Regulatory Landscape, focuses on employer responsibilities, heat illness prevention programs, and the evolving regulatory environment. It outlines key prevention measures, discusses state-level heat illness standards, and highlights practical steps firms can take to reduce risk.
The second resource, Protect Yourself from Heat Stress, provides practical guidance for field and facility personnel. It explains common heat-related illnesses, outlines warning signs and response actions, and offers straightforward prevention strategies. The resource also emphasizes that indoor workplaces can face significant heat-related risks even when direct sunlight is not a factor.
The transition into fall offers firms an opportunity to evaluate lessons learned from the summer season and strengthen their heat illness prevention efforts before warmer conditions return. These resources can support employee training, safety planning, field operations, and ongoing risk-management initiatives across a wide range of work environments.
GBA members are encouraged to download both Best Practices resources and use them to support year-round safety awareness, prevention planning, and leadership discussions within their organizations.
GBA Best Practices are member-exclusive resources that provide practical guidance on the business, risk management, leadership, and operational challenges geoprofessional firms face every day. Designed to be concise and actionable, they help firms avoid common pitfalls, strengthen decision-making, and improve business performance.