The construction industry is one of the top employers in both Illinois and Indiana, and also one of the most dangerous. Construction work is recognized as the most dangerous job in Illinois, and the second most dangerous line of work in Indiana. Read, The Most Dangerous Jobs in America Are Still the Most Deadly in 2021; Construction Workers: The Most Dangerous Job Today; and What Is The Most Dangerous Job in Indiana and Illinois?
There are serious risks of being hurt on the job for most construction workers at any time of the year; however, for some construction trades the dangers of suffering bodily injury are particularly great during the hot summer months.
For more, see Summer Construction Work Accident Dangers: The New OSHA Heat Safety Law.
Some construction workers must work with conditions that exacerbate their risk of being hurt by high temperatures on the job. As the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”) explains, these are things like:
- Environmental conditions (such as air temperature, humidity, sunlight, and air speed), especially on sequential days.
- Presence of heat sources (e.g., hot tar ovens or furnaces) in the work area.
- Level of physical activity, i.e., the workload leading to body heat production.
- Use of clothing or protective gear that can reduce the body’s ability to lose excess heat.
- Individual/personal risk factors.
Heat kills. Research confirms that construction workers face a risk that is thirteen times higher than other workers to die from heat-related illnesses. Read, Specht, Jonathan, et al. “Environmental Heat Stress and Physiological Heat Strain in Construction Workers During Work in the Summer.” International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings. Vol. 14. No. 3. 2023.
Even more important is to know this risk is even higher for some on the job site. Certain types of construction workers in our part of the country, as well as their co-workers, supervisors, and family members, must recognize they face a shockingly great risk of injury each day on the job just because of heat exposure.
Heat injuries or work accidents caused by high temperatures are particularly high-risk for the following jobs on our construction sites:
Roofers
Roofers are considered to have the greatest risk of harm from heat, not only because they must work directly under the sun in order to get their job done, but because of other contributing factors. This includes working with materials that attract heat as well as doing things that push their bodies to increase their internal temperatures (like laying shingles, for instance). Read, “Pioneering study reveals heat stress risks for construction workers,” written by Savannah Peat and published by the University of New Mexico on February 6, 2024.
Explains Professor Fabiano Amorim from the above-referenced study:
“Roofers usually are exposed to the sun’s radiation, and that makes their jobs much harder. The sun sends the radiation that gets trapped by this roof’s black insulation material. This black material is basically like an oven that they are on top of. Then sometimes they want to have a break, and they don’t have a shade and then don’t want to get down. These people are at a higher risk, among workers already at a high risk.”
Also read: Roofers Hurt or Killed on the Job: Why is Roofing So Dangerous and Deadly?
Asphalt Workers (Road Construction)
Road construction in Illinois and Indiana is a big part of current state and local budgets; accordingly, there are a lot of people employed in building, repairing, or maintaining our streets, roads, highways, and expressways. There are also construction workers working in similar efforts on construction sites where parking lots, etc., are needed.
These are asphalt workers. They are expert in working with hot asphalt as well as the heavy equipment and machinery that is needed for the molten material.
What is asphalt? It is a product of the oil industry, a material used in building and maintaining roadways as well as things like runways, sidewalks, and sporting arenas. It is produced at an asphalt plant, and a hot mix of asphalt used in road construction can reach a temperature of 356 degrees Fahrenheit. For details, read “What is Asphalt,” written by the European Asphalt Pavement Association.
Accordingly, anyone asked to deal with asphalt faces a great danger of being hurt from the extreme heat emitted from the material itself. However, that heat exposure increases as the day goes on, because they must do their jobs outside in high temperatures. They face risks of heat stress and heat illness as well as suffering burns and other injuries (including internal harm from inhalation of toxic fumes).
Also see: New Construction Worker Safety Report: 43% Jump in Road Construction Worker Deaths.
Welders (Ironworkers)
Welders are invaluable at most construction sites, since their expertise will be needed from the smallest residential build to large commercial projects requiring large steel structures. They will be asked to work in direct sunlight, even on the hottest summer day. As they work to weld metal, they are exposed not only to the heat of the surrounding environment but the radiant heat coming off the metal’s surface.
For more, read Welder Accidents: The Deadly Dangers of Welding on Industrial Job Sites.
Concrete Workers (Masons, Formwork Setters)
Researchers warn that concrete work is second only to roofing as the most susceptible to heat-related harm. Construction necessitates experts like masons and formwork setters to work in the summer heat with bodily exertion that alone can cause serious bodily harm. Added to this is the heat that arises from the materials themselves, because concrete will create heat as it cures.
For more, read Construction Accidents: Cement and Concrete Hazards on the Construction Site.
Landscapers and Groundkeepers
Finally, construction projects are so intense and with so many specialties on task each day facing great dangers that the work of landscapers and groundskeepers may go unheeded. After all, they are not asked to work with molten materials or atop heat-absorbing insulation.
However, most construction sites will not be complete without landscape architects being involved to plan and implement lawns, beds, trees, and other outdoor landscaping. These workers will be asked to work their days outdoors in the summer heat.
Their efforts will involve things like digging and planting as well as mowing or using other heavy equipment or machinery to get the job done. This will boost their internal bodily temperature as they perform these tasks. Some of their equipment (think power saws, blowers, etc.) will create their own heat, adding to their risk of heat harm.
Heat Injuries or Accidents on Construction Sites in Illinois or Indiana
Some of our construction workers face a tremendously high danger of being killed or catastrophically hurt on the job from exposure to high temperatures. For roofers, masons, form workers, asphalt workers, landscape workers, road construction workers, and welders, the risk is unacceptably great.
Currently, construction employers must comply with the overall legal duty of care and safety for their workers. All too often, these legal duties are ignored or avoided and people are harmed.
See:
- What is the Employer’s General Duty Clause?
- Who Can Be Held Liable for Construction Worker Accidents?
- Multiple Employers on the Construction Site: Who Is Liable For Construction Worker Accidents?
Anyone who is hurt on a construction site in Illinois or Indiana has a right to investigate their situation in order to determine the extent of legal liability based upon state and federal law. Each case is unique; however, facts may reveal not only employers but various third parties have a legal responsibility for what has happened.
For more, read:
- Legal Protection for Construction Workers from High Risk and Danger of Serious Injury or Death on the Job
- Welding Accidents and Employer Duty of Care for Welder Safety
- Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims for On-the-Job Accidents
- Damages are Different: Workers Compensation vs. Third Party Personal Injury Claims.
Roofing, welding, working with concrete or metal as well as polishing off a construction site with green landscaping poses great risk of heat injuries and heat-related accidents. High heat can cause bodily harm. Even a sweaty hand can cause a slip and a severe work accident. Please be careful out there!
