Rising global temperatures are having an increasingly harmful impact on workers' health and productivity, the UN warned on August 22, calling for rapid action to limit the risks. Immediate action is needed to combat the worsening impact of heat stress on workers worldwide", say the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), two UN agencies which published a joint report on this issue on Friday.
Heat stress, caused in particular by prolonged exposure to heat, occurs when the body is no longer able to cool itself, leading to symptoms ranging from dizziness and headaches to organ failure and death. Their recommendations are based on data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which indicates that more than 2.4 billion workers are exposed to extreme heat worldwide, representing 71% of the global workforce.
As a result, more than 22.85 million workplace accidents and nearly 19,000 deaths are recorded each year. The frequency and intensity of extreme heat events has increased significantly, increasing risks for people both outdoors and indoors, report the WHO and WMO.
Heat stroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction or neurological disorders... the effects of heat on health are varied and workers in the agricultural, construction or fishing sectors are particularly exposed, they specify.
“Societal challenge”
“ Heat stress at work has become a global societal challenge that is no longer limited to countries located near the equator." , says Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the WMO. Protecting these workers " is not only a health imperative, but also an economic necessity", she adds. According to these UN agencies, worker productivity decreases by 2 to 3% for every additional degree above 20°C. They call for the implementation of action plans adapted to each sector and region.
“ Without bold and coordinated action, heat stress will become one of the most devastating occupational hazards of our time, resulting in significant losses in human life and productivity.", for Joaquim Pintado Nunes, head of the ILO's occupational safety and health branch. Investing in effective prevention and protection strategies would save the planet billions of dollars each year." he continued at a press conference.
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Adapt or die
The report recommends prioritizing older workers, as well as those with chronic illnesses or less physical fitness, who are most susceptible to heat stress. Workers, unions, health experts, and local authorities should work together to develop measures, it recommends.
The last WHO technical report and recommendations on heat stress at work were in 1969, a time when the world was very different in terms of climate change" notes Ruediger Krech, head of environment and climate change at the WHO. " What has changed is gravity "heat episodes," he adds, the last ten years having been the ten hottest on record. We must face extreme heat in the future. It's a reality for many: it's a matter of adapting or dying.", assures Johan Stander, director of services at the WHO.
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