Workers around the world need better protection from heat in the workplace, which will become a serious problem in the face of climate change, when heat waves are becoming longer and more intense, writes the BBC.
A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that millions of workers are exposed to heat, which affects both health and performance in the workplace. WHO calls on governments, employers and workers to work together to adapt to the new conditions. Although WHO has repeatedly warned about the health effects of extreme heat, this is the first time since 1969 that it has emphasized the negative effects of heat in the workplace.
Adaptation is necessary because heat waves are no longer a rare phenomenon. The World Meteorological Organization has indicated that air temperatures have increased sharply in the last decade, and 2024 was the hottest year on record. In some parts of Europe, air temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius are no longer unusual. In Africa and the Middle East, the air is heating up to 50 degrees. The Mediterranean Sea reached its highest surface temperature ever recorded in July, at 26.68 degrees.
Great Britain has experienced one of its hottest summers since 1884.
Heat is not only bad for your health, it also reduces productivity. The WHO warns that for every degree above 20 degrees, productivity drops by 2%. Accidents are also on the rise. During a European heatwave in 2023, the Swiss insurance fund estimated that when temperatures exceeded 30 degrees, the number of accidents at work increased by 7%.
Workers in agriculture and construction are most exposed to the heat, and European countries are already looking for solutions to improve working conditions. In July, the Italian government passed an emergency decree that allows work to be stopped during the hottest hours of the day.
It is clear that adapting to heat in workplaces, schools and healthcare facilities will require investment. In many places, particularly in Europe, governments have focused on increasing defense budgets, and climate change adaptation has slipped off the agenda.
Read also: Scientists: Rapid melting of Antarctic ice will accelerate climate change