Extreme Weather Guidance

Extreme weather hazards in the workplace correlate to higher accident rates, illness, injuries, and deaths. They can also have an impact on a business through increased workers compensation claims, insurance costs, worker use of workplace benefits like Paid Sick Leave, and overall decreased or diminished worker productivity. 

To help protect outdoor workers’ health, the Governor directed the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to develop and issue guidance and best practices for employers to support the safety of outdoor workers in extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and extreme precipitation. This guidance completes an action in the New York State Extreme Heat Action Plan.

In a unionized workplace, this guidance does not supersede any current collective bargaining agreements. 

Employers can protect their workers from extreme temperatures, wildfire smoke, and extreme precipitation using the following strategies: 

1. Rest & Relief, including work/rest schedules and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

2. Training, so workers know the signs and symptoms of weather-related illnesses and how to work safely during extreme weather events.

3. Planning & Preparedness, including time for workers to acclimate to laboring in extreme temperatures, writing down illness prevention plans, and outlining emergency response procedures.

In addition to these core strategies, regardless of temperature or weather conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that employers provide each outdoor employee 32 ounces of drinking water per hour.

Review the Guidance

• NYSDOL Extreme Heat Guidance

Are you and your workers prepared for Extreme Weather? Let NYSDOL help. 

• Schedule a free on-site consultation.

Stay informed about extreme weather.

• Sign up for NY-Alert.

Use tools to determine when there are weather hazards present on your outdoor worksite.

• Heat Index: The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. It is the best way to assess the level of heat on a worksite. Employers can determine the current and forecast heat index using the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App. 

• Wind Chill: Wind chill is what the temperature feels like to the human body when air temperature and wind speed are combined. Employers can determine the wind chill using the National Weather Service Wind Chill Calculator. With this tool, one may input the air temperature and wind speed (measured on-site or found through a common weather app), and it will calculate the wind chill temperature. 

• Air Quality Index: The best way to know whether outdoor workers are being exposed to wildfire smoke is to identify the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 on or near the worksite. To determine the AQI on a worksite, employers may use www.AirNow.gov, which offers real-time information on the PM 2.5 levels in any given ZIP code, as well as basic information on vulnerable groups and tips for how to continue or discontinue outdoor activities.

• Extreme Precipitation: To determine the appropriate measures to protect workers, it is recommended that employers follow the alerts issued by the National Weather Service before and during extreme precipitation events.  Active alerts for New York State are provided on the National Weather Service website.

You cannot retaliate against workers for reporting any workplace health or safety concerns. 

• For more information on worker rights visit the NYSDOL Public Employee Safety & Health (PESH) Bureau or the Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) webpages. 

• OSHA has a training guide on extreme heat that employers can use verbatim, but it is best practice to add in the details of your site-specific procedures as well.

• Example Cold Illness Prevention Training from Washington State (PPT).

• NIEHS provides in depth training material for workers and employers involved in flood and hurricane response including power points, booklets, and fact sheets on flood cleanup, hurricane cleanup, urban flooding, and debris cleanup.