Heat-Related Illness on the Job: What Washington Workers Should Know About Filing an L&I Claim

When Summer Heat Becomes a Workplace Hazard

Washington summers can turn a job site into a health risk fast, for roofers, warehouse workers, landscapers, delivery drivers, farmworkers, and anyone else whose job keeps them outdoors or in un-cooled indoor spaces. Heat-related illness isn’t just discomfort. Left unaddressed, it can escalate into heat exhaustion or heat stroke, a medical emergency. If it happens on the job, it may qualify as a covered injury under Washington’s L&I system.

What Washington’s Heat Rules Require of Employers

Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries requires employers with outdoor workers to have a written heat-illness prevention plan. Once outdoor temperatures reach the state’s “action level”, 52°F for workers in non-breathable protective clothing, 80°F for everyone else, employers must:

• Provide enough cool drinking water, and real opportunities to drink it
• Provide shade or another way to cool down
• Train employees and supervisors to recognize the symptoms of heat illness
• Once temperatures hit 90°F, give workers paid cool-down rest breaks of at least 10 minutes every two hours, with even more frequent breaks required above 100°F

When an employer skips these steps and a worker gets sick, that failure can become important evidence in an L&I claim.

Recognizing Heat Illness Before It Becomes an Emergency

Heat illness doesn’t always look dramatic at first. Early warning signs include heavy sweating, headache, dizziness or lightheadedness, muscle cramps, nausea, and confusion. If a coworker stops sweating, becomes confused or disoriented, or loses consciousness, that’s a sign of heat stroke, call 911 immediately.

Can You File an L&I Claim for Heat-Related Illness?

Yes. Under Washington law, heat exhaustion and heat stroke sustained while performing work duties are treated like any other on-the-job injury. That means L&I benefits can include:

• Coverage of medical treatment
• Time-loss (wage replacement) if you’re unable to work while you recover
• Compensation for lasting effects, if the illness caused a permanent injury

Filing isn’t always straightforward. Employers sometimes treat heat illness as a personal health issue rather than a workplace injury, particularly if a pre-existing condition, like diabetes or a heart condition, was worsened by the heat exposure. That’s often where claims get delayed, disputed, or denied.

What to Do If You’re Overheated at Work

1. Tell your supervisor immediately and get somewhere cool right
2. Seek medical attention, urgent care or the ER for anything beyond mild
3. Report the incident in writing, not just
4. File your L&I claim as soon as possible, and note any witnesses and conditions (temperature, whether breaks and water were provided).
5. Keep your own records. They can matter later if the claim is contested.

We Can Help

If you’ve experienced heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or another heat-related illness while working in Washington, and your L&I claim was denied, delayed, or you’re not sure where to start, Emery | Reddy can help you understand your rights. Contact us for a free case review. No fee unless we recover for you.