How Rising Temperatures Influence Workers’ Compensation Claim Frequency:
The Impact of Excessive Heat on Workplace Injuries research brief examines the relationship between temperature and workers’ compensation claims in Pennsylvania over an 11-year period. By combining statewide claims data with average temperature information across regions, the analysis evaluates how elevated temperatures correlate with changes in claim frequency across industries, months, and temperature ranges. The findings provide stakeholders with data-driven insight into how environmental conditions may influence workplace safety, particularly in outdoor and labor-intensive sectors.
36%
Increase in number of heat-related workers’ compensation claims as the average number of days exceeding 80°F rose from 51 (2012–2017) to 62 (2018–2022).
What is in the report
- Industry exposure varies significantly. The Contracting industry accounts for the highest share of heat-related claims (31%), followed by Goods and Services (23%) and Manufacturing (22%), reflecting greater outdoor and heat-exposed work activity.
- Summer months amplify risk. From June through August, the proportion of heat-related claims grows faster than total claims, indicating that temperature effects extend beyond seasonal workforce increases.
- Most heat-related claims are low severity. Approximately 96% of heat-related claims are medical-only, with an average severity of about $3,100, limiting overall system cost impact.