Work to Zero resource highlights risks and prevention strategies from rising temperatures.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Heat exposure killed 55 workers across all industries in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2021 and 2022, nearly 5,000 people suffered heat-related injuries or illnesses that resulted in days away from work. To help combat this growing threat, the National Safety Council, in partnership with the NCCCO Foundation, released a new resource, Addressing Heat Stress in the Crane Industry.
“Workers in the crane industry face unique and elevated risks due to environmental conditions and the physical demands of the job,” said Katherine Mendoza, senior director of workplace safety programs at NSC. “This report highlights how practical interventions – like rest breaks, cooling stations, acclimatization protocols and technology – can prevent serious injury and save lives.”
Published through the Council’s Work to Zero initiative, the report offers targeted recommendations to protect crane workers from high-heat hazards. This industry often involves extended periods in direct sunlight or enclosed spaces where temperatures can soar.
Key recommendations include:
A 2023 Work to Zero and NCCCO Foundation survey of more than 2,000 crane personnel underscores the urgency of this issue. Three in four respondents reported being “likely” or “very likely” to experience heat stress or illness while working. Respondents also identified heat stress as the top contributing factor to personal injuries (18%) and injuries sustained by others on site (16%).
“The work done in partnership with the NSC continues to be vital in furthering the mission of the NCCCO Foundation to improve worksite safety for those working in the crane industry,” said T.J. Cantwell, executive director at NCCCO Foundation. “This report on heat stress and the accompanying webinar provide employers and employees with important steps they can take to protect themselves from dangerous heat related injuries, especially during the middle of the summer with heat advisories occurring regularly throughout the U.S.”
The NCCCO Foundation will host a webinar on July 9, 2025, with NSC and a crane safety expert to discuss the new report and various ways to deal with the hazards caused by heat when working in and around cranes. Anyone interested in attending can register for the webinar at https://bit.ly/HeatStressInTheCraneIndustryWebinar.
This report marks the fourth resource in the ongoing collaboration between Work to Zero and the NCCCO Foundation to support data-driven safety solutions in the crane industry.
Funded by the McElhattan Foundation, Work to Zero aims to eliminate workplace fatalities through the advancement and adoption of technology. To learn more about creating a safer workplace, visit nsc.org/worktozero.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.
About the NCCCO Foundation
The NCCCO Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization formed in 2018 to promote industry safety through three major pathways: education, research, and workforce development.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
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