Abstract
CONTEXT: Athletic trainers employed in the industrial setting are the optimal health care professionals to implement heat illness prevention strategies and respond to heat-related illnesses and injuries. OBJECTIVE: To provide best-practice recommendations for athletic trainers working in the occupational setting to develop and implement heat stress mitigation strategies. METHODS: A group of content experts gathered to describe and discuss current and forthcoming local and federal heat safety standards, consider the effect of heat on productivity, and establish the athletic trainer's role on the occupational health and safety team. Using a modified Delphi scoring method, these experts developed action-oriented recommendations that can be implemented by the athletic trainer to augment heat stress safety in the workplace and consider the effects on productivity. RESULTS: A total of 48 recommendations organized into 5 primary areas, including (1) accessibility of educational materials, (2) heat's impact on productivity, (3) the athletic trainer's role in prevention, (4) the athletic trainer's role in identification and treatment, and (5) the athletic trainer's role in return to work, were retained as they were found to be valid, feasible, and clear by content experts. CONCLUSIONS: Given current and future heat extremes and the vulnerability of employees working in the heat, athletic trainers need to work with employers, supervisors, and occupational environmental health and safety professionals. Efforts should include establishing policies and procedures to reduce the risk and incidence of heat illnesses and productivity losses when possible, appropriately identify and treat heat-related medical emergencies, and lead return-to-work protocols for employees when heat injuries and illnesses do occur.