The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have released a report indicating that increasingly high temperatures are poised to significantly impact workplace conditions. According to their findings, when workers lack adequate protection against heat stress, it can adversely affect both their health and productivity. The organizations underscore the necessity for employers and policymakers to take these risks seriously to ensure worker safety and business viability.
Currently, an estimated 2.4 billion individuals—representing 71% of the global workforce—experience heat stress related to their jobs. Each year, excessive heat contributes to approximately 22.85 million workplace injuries and nearly 19,000 fatalities. The report notes that productivity decreases by 2–3% for every degree Celsius increase above 20 degrees in wet-bulb globe temperature, which factors in humidity and other environmental variables.
The trend of record-high temperatures is becoming the new norm, with last year recorded as the hottest to date; this trend is further exacerbated by rising carbon emissions. Healthy individuals are capable of maintaining a core body temperature between 36.5°C and 37.5°C (97.7°F to 99.5°F), but this regulation becomes increasingly difficult in hotter environments. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to more severe conditions such as heat stroke.
To address workplace heat stress, both WHO and WMO advocate for increased education and preventive measures, such as enhancing heat wave warning systems and redesigning work environments to ensure lower temperatures. Additionally, they recommend that employers implement longer breaks and prepare for heat-related emergencies.
In the United States, recent proposals by the Biden administration aim to boost worker protections against heat-related illnesses, including regulations for mandatory breaks during high heat conditions. Addressing the root causes of climate change, particularly by reducing fossil fuel emissions, is highlighted as a critical step toward mitigating the impacts of rising temperatures on workers.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/764463/heat-stress-health-work-protections