Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC

Jul 16, 2026 | 1:23 PM

With a heat wave coming to the Okanagan Valley, B.C.’s worker protection advocates remind employers that they must protect their workers.

WorkSafeBC said employers must safeguard workers from the risks associated with heat and solar ultraviolet exposure.

“Elevated temperatures increase the risk of heat stress and heat stroke, which can be serious and even life-threatening,” Todd McDonald, head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC, said.

“These illnesses are preventable, and employers have a responsibility to take steps to protect workers, whether they are indoors or outdoors.”

Employers were urged to conduct workplace-specific risk assessments and develop plans to ensure workers stay safe on the job. Measures employers should take to protect workers include:

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Providing cool drinking water and regular rest breaks.
Setting up shaded or cooled recovery areas.
Scheduling strenuous work during cooler parts of the day.
Improving ventilation and cooling in indoor work areas.
Rotating workers between hotter and cooler environments.
Training workers to recognize the early signs of heat stress in themselves and others and how to seek first aid. Symptoms can include excessive sweating, muscle cramps, nausea, weakness, dizziness, agitation, or confusion.
Encouraging workers to report symptoms early and speak up if conditions become unsafe.

Workers were also advised to engage in the health and safety committee work, but should also take actions to protect themselves on the job by:

Drinking plenty of water (one glass every 20 minutes).
Wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabric, such as cotton.
Wearing sunscreen and apply regularly.
Taking rest breaks in a cool, well-ventilated area.
Knowing your personal risk factors, such as medications and any pre-existing conditions.
Watching for signs and symptoms of heat stress in yourself and co-workers.

Between 2021 and 2025, WorkSafeBC accepted 335 heat-related injuring claims.

The agency said workers in a range of industry face increased risk during hot weather, with outdoor workers in construction, agriculture, transportation and public works facing the highest risks. Outdoor workers also face increased risk from UV radiation, and at up to 3.5 times more likely than indoor workers to develop skin cancer.

Indoor workers can also be susceptible to high temperatures, especially when working in kitchens, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and in spaces without air conditioning.

by Liam Verster

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