This summer is proving to be a hot one across much of the U.S. as heat waves grip many regions with little relief from nighttime cooling. If it seems like it has been getting hotter, there are data to support that premise.
Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report describing the far-reaching impacts of climate change on people and the environment [1]. The report, which includes historical data and observed trends, uses 39 of 57 key indicators that the EPA follows to keep abreast of the effects of climate change. EPA partners with more than 50 data contributors from various U.S. and international government agencies, academic institutions and other organizations to compile the key indicators of climate change that it monitors. The eight chapters in the lengthy report cover various topics indicating the extensive effects of climate change including: greenhouse gases; rising temperatures; extreme events, such as heavy rainstorms, hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires; water resources; seasonal changes; ocean impacts; rising sea levels; and warming effects specific to Alaska.
Working in extreme heat
Worldwide, 2023 was the warmest year on record and 2014–2023 was the warmest decade on record since thermometer-based observations began, according to the EPA report. And overall, the U.S. is seeing a somewhat higher average rate of temperature rise than the global rate, as concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase. What were once considered “unusually” hot summer days and nights have become more common over the last few decades. Part of the concern about this trend is that extreme heat can have debilitating effects on human health.
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), heat causes more deaths in the U.S. than any other hazardous weather condition. Two of the groups of people at risk are outdoor workers, such as in construction or agriculture, and workers in indoor areas without air conditioning, such as in many manufacturing facilities and warehouses. In addition to environmental temperatures, heat-generating processes and machinery can also put workers at risk.
From 2011 to 2022, 479 workers in the U.S. were reported to have died from environmental heat exposure, and from 2011 to 2020, there were 33,890 estimated work-related heat injuries and illnesses that caused workers to miss time from work. OSHA comments that these statistics are even likely underestimated [2].
OSHA’s proposed rule
OSHA is taking a step toward a federal heat standard to protect workers by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. With the standard, employers would be required to evaluate and create a plan to control heat hazards in the workplace. The public can submit comments about the proposed rule. More information can be found on OSHA’s website [3]. ■
Update note 8/30/2024 — OSHA’s proposed rule is now available in the Federal Register
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate change indicators in the United States (Fifth ed., EPA 430-R-24-003), www.epa.gov/climate-indicators, July 2024.
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Rising heat concerns
| By Dorothy Lozowski
This summer is proving to be a hot one across much of the U.S. as heat waves grip many regions with little relief from nighttime cooling. If it seems like it has been getting hotter, there are data to support that premise.
Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report describing the far-reaching impacts of climate change on people and the environment [1]. The report, which includes historical data and observed trends, uses 39 of 57 key indicators that the EPA follows to keep abreast of the effects of climate change. EPA partners with more than 50 data contributors from various U.S. and international government agencies, academic institutions and other organizations to compile the key indicators of climate change that it monitors. The eight chapters in the lengthy report cover various topics indicating the extensive effects of climate change including: greenhouse gases; rising temperatures; extreme events, such as heavy rainstorms, hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires; water resources; seasonal changes; ocean impacts; rising sea levels; and warming effects specific to Alaska.
Working in extreme heat
Worldwide, 2023 was the warmest year on record and 2014–2023 was the warmest decade on record since thermometer-based observations began, according to the EPA report. And overall, the U.S. is seeing a somewhat higher average rate of temperature rise than the global rate, as concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase. What were once considered “unusually” hot summer days and nights have become more common over the last few decades. Part of the concern about this trend is that extreme heat can have debilitating effects on human health.
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), heat causes more deaths in the U.S. than any other hazardous weather condition. Two of the groups of people at risk are outdoor workers, such as in construction or agriculture, and workers in indoor areas without air conditioning, such as in many manufacturing facilities and warehouses. In addition to environmental temperatures, heat-generating processes and machinery can also put workers at risk.
From 2011 to 2022, 479 workers in the U.S. were reported to have died from environmental heat exposure, and from 2011 to 2020, there were 33,890 estimated work-related heat injuries and illnesses that caused workers to miss time from work. OSHA comments that these statistics are even likely underestimated [2].
OSHA’s proposed rule
OSHA is taking a step toward a federal heat standard to protect workers by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. With the standard, employers would be required to evaluate and create a plan to control heat hazards in the workplace. The public can submit comments about the proposed rule. More information can be found on OSHA’s website [3]. ■
Update note 8/30/2024 — OSHA’s proposed rule is now available in the Federal Register
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate change indicators in the United States (Fifth ed., EPA 430-R-24-003), www.epa.gov/climate-indicators, July 2024.
2. OSHA, www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking
3. www.osha.gov/laws-regs/rulemakingprocess#v-nav-tab2
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.