Heat Safety at UPS: Your Rights When Working in Dangerous Temperatures

The Heat Crisis at UPS

UPS delivery trucks are notorious for lacking air conditioning. In summer, temperatures inside these vehicles can soar above 120°F. Drivers and warehouse workers face dangerous heat exposure daily—and some have tragically died as a result.

In recent years, multiple UPS workers have collapsed or died from heat-related illness. The company has faced OSHA investigations, union pressure, and public criticism for its heat safety practices. In 2023, the Teamsters union made heat safety a central issue in contract negotiations, securing some improvements. Still, many workers remain at risk.

If you work for UPS in hot conditions, you have legal rights to protection—and options if those rights are violated.

Understanding Heat-Related Illness

Heat illness is a serious medical condition that can escalate quickly from discomfort to life-threatening emergencies.

Heat exhaustion symptoms:

• Heavy sweating

• Weakness or fatigue

• Dizziness or fainting

• Nausea or vomiting

• Muscle cramps

• Headache

• Cool, pale, clammy skin

Heat stroke symptoms (medical emergency):

• High body temperature (103°F or higher)

• Hot, red, dry skin (no sweating)

• Rapid pulse

• Confusion or altered mental state

• Loss of consciousness

Heat stroke can kill within minutes. If you or a coworker shows these symptoms, call 911 immediately and move to a cool area.

Risk factors include:

• High temperatures and humidity

• Direct sun exposure

• Physical exertion

• Lack of water or breaks

• Certain medications

• Previous heat illness

• Not being acclimated to heat

UPS drivers and warehouse workers often face several of these risks at once—physical labor, hot vehicles, time pressure, and limited access to water and shade.

Your Rights Under OSHA

While OSHA does not have a specific heat standard yet, the General Duty Clause requires employers to provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards.” Extreme heat is a recognized hazard that can cause death or serious harm.

What UPS must provide:

• Water: Cool drinking water must be readily accessible (not locked away), and enough must be available for the conditions—at least one quart per hour in high heat.

• Rest: Breaks to cool down when needed, access to shade or air-conditioned areas, and time to acclimate to heat (especially for new workers).

• Training: How to recognize heat illness symptoms, what to do if you or a coworker shows symptoms, and how to prevent heat illness.

• Emergency response: Procedures for heat emergencies, access to medical care, and supervisors trained to recognize heat illness.

OSHA’s Heat Emphasis Program:
OSHA has prioritized heat safety enforcement. Under the National Emphasis Program on heat, OSHA conducts proactive inspections on high-heat days, and employers in high-risk industries (including delivery) face increased scrutiny. Heat-related deaths and hospitalizations trigger automatic investigations. UPS is on OSHA’s radar for heat safety, so your complaints are likely to be taken seriously.

Caveat: Not all complaints result in citations—OSHA’s response depends on the evidence and specifics of each case. Persistence and thorough documentation are key.

State Heat Standards

Some states have their own heat illness prevention standards that go beyond federal OSHA:

• California: Requires water, shade, rest, high-heat procedures above 95°F, and specific training.

• Washington: Has an outdoor heat exposure rule with requirements for water, shade, and acclimatization.

• Oregon: Requires heat illness prevention measures for outdoor workers at certain temperatures.

If you work in a state with its own plan, UPS must comply with those requirements. State standards can change, so check for updates.

The 2023 Teamsters Contract

The Teamsters union negotiated heat safety improvements in the 2023 UPS contract:

• Air conditioning in new trucks (phased in over time)

• Fans and ventilation in existing trucks

• Heat shields on package cars

• Improved access to water and ice

Limitations:
AC in new trucks doesn’t help workers in existing vehicles, and implementation will take time. Enforcement depends on union vigilance. If you’re a union member, your steward can help file grievances and push for contract enforcement. Collective action can be powerful.

Protecting Yourself in the Heat

Reporting heat hazards is a protected right, and many improvements start with one person speaking up. While UPS has obligations, you also need to protect yourself:

Before your shift:

• Hydrate well (start drinking water before you feel thirsty)

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine

• Get adequate sleep

• Eat light meals

During your shift:

• Drink water frequently

• Take breaks in shade or AC when possible

• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing

• Use cooling towels or ice packs

• Know the symptoms of heat illness

• Watch out for coworkers

If you feel symptoms:

• Stop working immediately

• Move to a cool area

• Drink water

• Tell your supervisor

• Seek medical attention if symptoms don’t improve quickly

Don’t push through symptoms. Heat illness can progress rapidly from manageable to life-threatening. Follow up with a doctor, as symptoms can worsen or recur.

What to Do If UPS Isn’t Providing Protection

Document the Conditions

Keep records (off company devices) of:

• Temperatures (inside trucks, warehouses, outside)

• Lack of water, shade, or breaks

• Requests for heat protection and responses

• Any symptoms you or coworkers experience

• Any heat-related incidents

Report Internally

• Tell your supervisor you need water, breaks, or other protection

• Put requests in writing when possible

• Contact your union steward if you’re a member

• Escalate to HR or safety personnel if needed

File an OSHA Complaint

If internal reporting doesn’t work:

• File online at www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by phone at 1-800-321-OSHA, or in person at your local OSHA office.

• Include specific temperatures, conditions, what protection is lacking, any heat-related illnesses, and what requests you’ve made.

• File complaints during or immediately after heat events. OSHA prioritizes current dangerous conditions.

Caveat: Not all heat-related complaints will result in citations or immediate changes, but patterns and strong documentation increase the chance of action.

Right to Refuse Dangerous Work

In extreme situations, you may have the right to refuse work that poses imminent danger. The legal standard is high:

• You must reasonably believe you face imminent death or serious injury

• You must have asked UPS to fix the hazard

• There’s no time to go through normal channels

• You have no reasonable alternative

If you refuse work, document why and report to OSHA immediately. Retaliation protections apply, but outcomes depend on the facts.

If You’re Injured by Heat

Heat illness is a workplace injury covered by workers’ compensation.

Immediate steps:

• Seek medical attention

• Report the injury to your supervisor

• Document the conditions that caused it

• File a workers’ comp claim

What workers’ comp covers:

• Medical treatment

• Lost wages while recovering

• Disability benefits if you have lasting effects

Important: Heat illness can have lasting effects, including increased sensitivity to heat in the future. Make sure your medical records document the full extent of your condition. Employers may contest claims, so thorough documentation is important.

Retaliation Protections

It’s illegal for UPS to retaliate against you for:

• Reporting heat safety concerns

• Filing OSHA complaints

• Refusing dangerous work (under proper conditions)

• Filing workers’ comp claims

Signs of retaliation:

• Discipline after raising safety concerns

• Worse routes or assignments

• Reduced hours

• Termination

If you experience retaliation, document everything and file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA within 30 days. Contact your union if applicable. Some state laws may allow longer for certain claims.

Using Caira to Protect Yourself

Caira can help you:

• Understand heat safety requirements in your state

• Document conditions and incidents

• Draft complaints to UPS or OSHA

• Understand your workers’ comp rights

• Prepare for conversations with supervisors

Documents to upload:

• Temperature readings or weather data

• Communications about heat safety

• Any incident reports

• Your state’s heat standards (if applicable)

Questions to ask Caira:

• “What are the heat safety requirements in my state?”

• “How do I file an OSHA complaint about heat?”

• “Can I refuse to work in extreme heat?”

• “What should I document about heat conditions?”

Empower Yourself

You have rights, and the law is on your side. Many employees succeed simply by being persistent, documenting everything, and following the proper steps. If you face obstacles, don’t give up—there are clear processes to protect you.

The key is to act while you still can. Deadlines matter in employment law, and waiting too long can cost you your claims. Document everything, understand your options, and take informed action.

Caira can help. She’s delightful to chat to.

She helps you feel more confident and less anxious about employment law issues—whether you’re facing heat safety, workplace hazards, or just want to understand your rights. Backed by 50,000 legal documents for all 50 states, Caira can:

• Answer your questions instantly 24/7

• Review and explain emails, policies, or termination letters

• Draft statements or responses for HR or agencies

• Give feedback on your filled-in forms or the other party’s arguments

• Analyze your uploaded documents, screenshots, or pay stubs

• Help you track deadlines and next steps for your state

Try Caira for free—no credit card required.

This information is for educational purposes and is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Workplace safety law is complex and fact-specific. Outcomes vary depending on the evidence submitted and its strength.