Memorandum
To: Mayor’s Office of New York City
From: Nandini Vavhal, MS in SES Candidate, Pratt Institute
Date: 13th February 2024
Subject: Proposing Strategies for extreme heat conditions and improving Air quality
Summary:
New York City is already facing the ill effects of climate change, which is one of the most pressing
challenges of our time, impacting communities, ecosystems, and economies across the globe.
Recognizing the urgent need for action, New York City is committed to implementing comprehensive
climate change policies that address mitigation and adaptation. These policies aim to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate impacts, and foster a sustainable, equitable, and resilient
future for all New Yorkers. They are mitigating and adapting the effects of greenhouse gas emissions
that result in extreme heat and create a heat island effect in the city. This effect affects different
communities at different levels. One of the most vulnerable communities is the labourers working on
the construction sites as their work perspective. In order to provide a more just and equitable future for
New Yorkers, the city’s extreme heat adaptation measures must be extended to the group of workers
and labourers. On a larger scale, reducing the urban island heat effect in the city. New York lacks any
heat safety standards for workers, though seven states- California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota,
Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, already have them in place or in development.
Extreme heat preparedness for New Yorkers' construction labourers.
Existing Issue
When the temperature hits 85 degrees Fahrenheit, workers in New York City are 7% more likely to be
injured on the job. At 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the likelihood of an accident increases by one more point
to 8%.
Construction sites are typically outdoors, exposing workers to the sun's rays without much shade or
protection. It also involves physical labour, which increases the body's internal heat production. This,
combined with high temperatures, can lead to overheating and heat-related illnesses. Workers and
labourers wear heavy protective clothing, such as helmets, boots, and reflective gear, which can trap
heat and make it harder for the body to cool down. Moreover, construction schedules are often tight,
and workers may not have adequate breaks to rest and hydrate, increasing the risk of heat stress. Many
strategies to adapt to rising temperatures and extreme heat waves are outlined in the Cool
Neighbourhood NYC program. However, most actions focus on improving indoor cooling capacities,
changing urban fabrics, and green infrastructure developments. These efforts are less accessible to
construction labourers and blue-collar workers who typically are exposed to the sun and the heat.
Solution
• It's essential for employers to implement measures such as providing ample shade, scheduling work
during cooler times of the day, allowing frequent breaks, and providing access to cold water.
• Educating workers about heat-related risks and training supervisors to recognize and respond to
signs of heat stress.
• Additionally, implementing heat illness prevention programs and policies can help ensure the
safety and well-being of construction workers during heatwaves.
• Governments can provide funding or support for training and education programs focused on heat
illness prevention for construction workers and employers. This training can cover topics such as
recognizing the signs of heat stress, proper hydration, acclimatization, and using personal
protective equipment.
• Clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE), such as impermeable coveralls, can also reduce
sweat evaporation, and clothing and PPE can create microenvironments that trap heat close to the
skin. Adjustments to exposure limits and work-rest schedules are required based on the type of
clothing and PPE worn and the physical demands of the work.
• Provide cool, shaded, or air-conditioned areas for rest and recovery.
• Provide a large container (a cooler, large bucket, or plastic tub) of cool (10‐15°C) water for workers
to immerse their hands and forearms, which reduces skin and core temperature. Replace the water
when its temperature exceeds 27°C
• Provide adequate, convenient toilet facilities so workers do not avoid hydration to delay bathroom
use.
Key stakeholders
The Workers’ Compensation Board, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Local
Government, non-profit and private organizations, and the Community Emergency Response Team
(NYC CERT)
The Workers’ Compensation Board can implement laws and regulations on the employers that take over
construction sites for the workers, especially during the summer season, and establish emergency rooms
and cooling centers near construction with adequate supplies of cool liquids, first-aid supplies, and
equipment (such as ice packs and iced bedsheets, or a child’s wading pool that can be quickly filled
with cool water), and cool rest areas are ready at each site. The board should also provide compulsory
and strict health insurance benefits and compensation for emergencies created on-site, especially during
the summer season. Occupational Safety and Health Administration can monitor the workers'
compensation board, collaborate with the local government to provide funds for the facilities and
incentives, and create schedules and rules for the workers to work on-site during the summer season.
Non-profit and private organizations that work with New Yorkers experiencing homelessness can help
improve extreme heat communications, identify locations or ways to expand cooling centers, and
provide food, water, material aid, and/or self-care access such as showers. Community Emergency
Response Team (NYC CERT) and other volunteers trained in emergency response and community
engagement efforts should provide additional support to City and non-city entities that work closely
with homeless populations. By implementing these solutions, governments can help reduce the
vulnerability of construction workers to heatwaves and create safer working conditions during the
summer season.
The expected impacts of improving heat preparedness for the laborers and workers on
construction sites.
• Reduced or no accidents of the workers who are exposed to the heat on the site
• Expand and put-up emergency and cooling centers for laborers and workers for breaks and
intervals near or on the construction site for heat stress during the day.
• Proper infrastructure and improved heat wave resources and risk awareness for the laborers and
workers.
• A minimized impact of heatwaves on the work as well as on the workers and the labourers.
• Lastly, create safer working conditions and encourage them to work during summer with all
safety measures.
Conclusions
The progress of impacts will be measured by the decrease in accidents of the workers exposed to heat
on the site, having the workers covered with incentives and compensation. Moreover, giving training to
identify the signs and symptoms of strokes and issues caused by excessive heat develops cooling centers
and emergency rooms for those experiencing problems due to heat issues and creates a safer
environment while working in the summer season.
References and Citations
1. Workers Compensation Board - https://www.wcb.ny.gov/
2. Heat Stress in Construction
Posted on May 21, 2020 by CAPT Alan Echt, DrPH, CIH; Scott Earnest, PhD, PE,
CSP; CDR Elizabeth Garza, MPH, CPH; and Christina Socias-Morales, DrPH
https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/05/21/heat-stress-construction
3. Krueger, J. (2023, December 7). Legal action is needed to protect workers from
extreme heat. Network for Public Health Law. https://www.networkforphl.org/news-
insights/variability-in-state-and-local-laws-protecting-workers-from-extreme-heat-
and-the-need-for-federal-action/
4. NYC Mayor’s Office. 2017. “Cool Neighbourhoods NYC: A Comprehensive
Approach to Keep Communities Safe in Extreme Heat,” 1–44
5. Watkins, K. (2023, July 27). Houston’s outdoor workers are the most vulnerable to
heat-related illnesses, but laws have yet to pass to protect them. Houston Public
Media. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/in-
depth/2023/07/26/457831/houstons-outdoor-workers-are-the-most-vulnerable-to-heat-
related-illnesses-but-laws-have-yet-to-pass-to-protect-them
