Joe Paduda:The hottest temps we’ve seen this year are about to hit 78 million of us.

Of course, millions of workers will be outdoors working in agriculture, forestry, energy, construction, public safety, hospitality. logistics and transportation - and they will be at MUCH higher risk of getting hurt on the job.

WCRI’s research provides incontrovertible evidence that excess heat is a major claims and cost driver.

The most basic tenet of workers’ comp is to prevent injuries from happening in the first place. The most effective way to do this is to require employers take steps to protect workers. Florida and Texas are two states that have rejected worker protections - so expect claims counts to jump this summer.

Read the full article here.  WCRI research on the interactions between extreme heat and workers' compensation include Heat-Related Illnesses in the Workplace and Impact of California’s Heat Standard on Workers’ Compensation Outcomes. Visit their pages on our website for more information and details on how to get access.