Impact of Extreme Heat on Worker Productivity and Health
Extreme heat significantly reduces worker productivity, with a drop of two to three percent for every degree above 20 degrees Celsius, according to a report by the United Nations' health and climate agencies, WHO and WMO.
Health Risks Associated with Extreme Heat
- Heatstroke and dehydration
- Brain and kidney disorders
- Increased risk of miscarriage for pregnant women exposed to extreme heat
Such conditions threaten both the health and economic security of workers, with half the global population facing adverse effects.
Recommendations and Solutions
- Developing workplace policies that address the health hazards of heat.
- Adapting solutions to local weather, specific worker roles, and vulnerabilities.
- Incorporating cultural contexts and addressing economic disparities in climate strategies.
- Focusing on vulnerable groups such as middle-aged and older workers, and those with chronic conditions.
Need for Awareness and Research
- Increasing awareness among health professionals, employers, and workers about heat stress symptoms.
- Promoting sustainable and scalable solutions using technology to balance health and productivity.
- Enhancing research and evaluation to make occupational heat-health measures more effective.
It emphasizes the need for urgent intervention, highlighting how current climate strategies often fail to consider cultural and economic contexts, thus not meeting the needs of the most affected, particularly the poorest sections of society.