Heat Spike Alert: Commissioner Farley Urges Heat Safety as Temperatures Rise Into 90s
Summary
The NC Department of Labor issued a heat safety alert urging workers to take precautions as temperatures climb into the 90s. Commissioner Luke Farley emphasized three key prevention strategies: rest, water, and shade. The advisory targets outdoor industries including construction, agriculture, and landscaping, as well as workers in non-climate-controlled indoor environments. No new compliance requirements or deadlines are established.
What changed
The NC Department of Labor issued a general heat safety awareness alert as temperatures across North Carolina begin climbing into the 90s. Commissioner Luke Farley emphasized that heat stress is preventable and reminded workers and employers of three key prevention strategies: rest, water, and shade. The advisory specifically mentions outdoor industries such as construction, agriculture, and landscaping, as well as non-climate-controlled indoor environments.
Affected parties should use this advisory as a reminder to review and reinforce existing heat safety protocols. While no new compliance obligations are created, employers in affected industries should ensure their heat illness prevention programs are operational and that workers understand recognition and response procedures for heat-related symptoms.
What to do next
- Monitor NCDOL heat safety resources at labor.nc.gov/beat-heat
- Recognize signs of heat stress and respond quickly to symptoms
- Implement three key prevention strategies: rest, water, and shade
Archived snapshot
Apr 14, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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RALEIGH, NC Apr 13, 2026 As temperatures across North Carolina begin climbing into the 90s this week, the NC Department of Labor is urging workers to take proactive steps to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses.
“This week marks our first significant heat spike of the season, but it will not be the last,” said Labor Commissioner Luke Farley. “With temperatures expected to climb steadily into the 90s, this is an important reminder for everyone working outdoors or in hot environments. Heat stress is preventable. Remember these three tools on the job: rest, water, and shade."
Heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, can develop quickly in high temperatures — especially for workers in outdoor industries such as construction, agriculture, and landscaping, as well as those in non-climate-controlled indoor environments.
NCDOL emphasizes three key prevention strategies:
- Rest
- Water
- Shade “These simple precautions save lives,” Farley added. “We will not compromise when it comes to ensuring every worker makes it home safely at the end of the day.“
The NC Department of Labor also reminds everyone to recognize the signs of heat stress and to respond quickly if symptoms arise.
For more information on workplace heat safety and compliance resources, visit https://www.labor.nc.gov/beat-heat
Contact
John Wesley Waugh john.waugh@labor.nc.gov
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