Heat Stress Is More Dangerous Than Ever. Here's How to
Protect Your Workers. The Americas alone have experienced a 33.3 percent increase in heat-related work injuries since 2000, according to a new report.
By Ava Mandoli, Editorial Intern
Heat stress is becoming increasingly dangerous--and even deadly--for workers worldwide.
In just the last week, the global record for hottest daily temperature was broken twice. According to a recent report by the International Labour Organization, 2.41 billion workers (or 70 percent of the working population) are currently exposed to excessive heat. Worldwide, that results in 22.85 million injuries and nearly 19,000 deaths annually.
The impact of rising global temperatures has been particularly apparent in the Americas, which have seen a 33 percent increase in heat-related occupational injuries since 2000, according to the report. In Europe and Central Asia, such injuries have increased by 16.4 percent.
Climate change mitigation will be a long battle, says the ILO, but the issue of excessive heat exposure needs immediate attention. "Workers are being injured and dying now, and therefore heat stress preventative measures should be implemented as a matter of urgency," the report said.
Outdoor workers are at particular risk for heat exposure, the report notes, but all types of employees can be at risk. Factories, for example, can become extremely hot if they are not properly ventilated.
Big heat waves may make headlines, but the vast majority (nine in 10) of worker exposures to excessive heat do not take place during those periods. According to the report, this may be because employers take heat exposure more seriously during those waves and are more intentional about enforcing safety regulations. Employers should maintain that same attention to heat stress throughout the entirety of hot months, the report suggests.
Working to mitigate heat stress year-round makes business sense, as it can take days or even weeks for employees to recover from heat-related injuries, the report notes. Strategies can include installing cooling fans, using building materials that don't absorb heat, instituting work-rest cycles, establishing a buddy system, and distributing PPE that helps workers maintain a normal body temperature, according to the ILO report.
Some solutions, however, may be more environmentally friendly than others. Because the increase in heat stress is driven by climate change, the report recommends employing energy-conscious solutions--such as cooling systems powered by solar energy rather than electricity--to protect workers without exacerbating the problem's root cause.
The report also calls on employers to gather input from workers on how to create a safe work environment that fits their specific needs: "Their feedback on existing conditions, effectiveness of current measures and suggestions for improvements provide critical data for shaping effective heat stress prevention strategies."
Ultimately, though, broader guidelines may be needed. In a videoed speech presenting the report, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres said, "We must ensure that laws and regulations reflect the reality of extreme heat today, and are enforced."
Photo: Getty Images.