As British Columbia marks the fifth anniversary of the deadly heat dome, researchers say the province’s worker protections need urgent updates to guard against deaths caused by extreme heat.
More than 600 people died when scorching temperatures settled over B.C. for five days from June 25 to July 1, 2021. The B.C. Coroner’s Service said most of those who died were seniors with compromised health who were living alone.
As extreme heat events become more frequent due to climate change, advocacy group B.C. Policy Solutions said the province’s current heat-exposure regulations are not enough to protect workers from heat-related illness and death.
The group issued a report Tuesday with several recommendations for WorkSafeBC as the provincial agency looks at updating its heat exposure requirements.
The report was co-authored by University of Victoria postdoctoral researcher Susanna Klassen and associate professor of sociology Anelyse Weiler.
Klassen said in an interview that workers are among those most vulnerable during periods of extreme heat.
“A lot of workers are doing really physically demanding jobs, like harvesting watermelons or working in a greenhouse, hauling irrigation equipment, moving around a lot,” said Klassen. “When folks do that physically demanding work in hot environments, it’s really hard for them to cool their bodies down, and then a lot of workers are also not getting the breaks and the types of protections that they are entitled to, or should be entitled to,” said Klassen.
Klassen said B.C.’s heat exposure recommendations haven’t been significantly updated since they were created in 2005.
The report’s top recommendation is to establish what’s called a trigger temperature model.
“It’s a temperature threshold at which protective measures have to be put in place in workplaces to help avoid heat illness and heat related illness,” said Klassen in an interview.
She said similar regulations are already in place in several U.S. states.
The report also says workers themselves need to be consulted and involved in the process of updating WorkSafeBC’s regulations.
It highlights ways that immigrant and migrant workers can be more vulnerable to safety risks at their jobs. Some may fear that speaking up could mean risking their status and future job placement.
Other recommendations include requiring employers to have acclimatization plans for when temperatures spike.
“Research shows that most fatalities from heat related illness occur in the first days of beginning or returning to work,” said Klassen. “So acclimatization means you’re giving your body a little extra time to adjust to the hot conditions of work so that you don’t get sick and die.”
Forecasters have said they expect to see higher-than-normal temperatures in B.C. this summer, particularly in southern and central regions of B.C.
“We really urgently need to get these regulations updated,” said Klassen. “The government already knows they need to be updated, which is excellent. The problem is that we haven’t actually seen much movement on it.”
A WorkSafeBC spokesperson Ashley Gregerson said in an email the agency’s current workplan includes a project to update its climate change and heat exposure requirements.
“Protecting indoor and outdoor workers from heat-related injuries is a priority for WorkSafeBC,” said Gregerson.
She said the agency is reviewing B.C. Policy Solutions report as part of its research.
Addressing the key recommendation of a temperature trigger approach, she noted that heat stress is not caused by temperature alone.
“The complexity of factors means that a temperature safe for one workplace might result in heat stress for another (for example, where workers are working harder, wearing more PPE, or are exposed to higher humidity levels),” said Gregerson.
She said WorkSafeBC said it accepted 47 heat-related injury claims in the province last year.
The agency has a screening tool and other resources to help employers assess heat risks for indoor and outdoor workers, as well as risks related to wildfire smoke and UV exposure.
