Young asian woman wearing yellow gloves and a beige apron is holding a mop and wiping sweat from her forehead while cleaning a bedroom in a modern apartment


A two-year investigation by National Public Radio (NPR) found a discrepancy in heat-related death reports. In partnership with Boston University, NPR built a statistical model that determined the current number of heat-related deaths, recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is greatly undercounted. These findings highlight how extreme heat is a public health hazard that commercial cleaning executives can address to safeguard frontline staff and building occupants.

This July reached record-breaking temperatures. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this summer featured intense heat domes and above-average temperatures, breaking records across 13 states. Although some of the heat is attributed to a historic super El Niño, the main cause is human-contributed climate change, as affirmed by World Weather Attribution. The severity of this shift in temperatures elevates the need for professional cleaning management to integrate heat illness prevention in operational planning and protocols.

Although heat is not considered a natural disaster, it does lead weather-related deaths, as supported by U.S. Natural Hazard Statistics. In response to this emergency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised its National Emphasis Program to enhance inspections and track compliance. Yet, these efforts compete with the Trump Administration's push to rollback federal heat protection standards.

Facility cleaning managers and building service contractors can improve working conditions for their cleaning crews by embedding heat safety into cleaning operations. The CDC advises time for employees to acclimatize to hot environments, providing proper hydration and rest breaks as the weather demands. Frontline staff should be educated on recognizing signs of heat illness in others and themselves, knowing how to respond when a team member contracts a heat-related illness. Wearing personal protective equipment conducive to both the building and the environment can also support staff safety and minimize operational disruptions.