Heat Stress: A Growing Occupational Hazard

Heat stress is increasingly threatening the health and productivity of millions of workers globally, necessitating urgent action from policymakers, employers and workers.

• By Dr. Mike Goetsch
• Jun 13, 2024

As the implications of climate change become more apparent, heat stress is a perilous occupational hazard, affecting millions globally. Following the patterns set by earlier years, 2024 has already set records for high temperatures, reinforcing the urgency of this issue. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported January 2024 as the hottest on record, an ominous sign of the continuous rise in heat levels.

The Toll of Heat Stress

Heat stress—which encompasses conditions like heatstroke, exhaustion and cramps—poses significant threats to worker health and safety. It doesn't discriminate, impacting workers across sectors like agriculture, construction and even those in service industries such as tourism and sports.

According to a recent report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), every year 22.85 million occupational injuries and nearly 19,000 work-related deaths are attributable to excessive heat. When workers' core body temperatures exceed 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, there's an impairment of physical and cognitive functions. At above 105.1 degrees, the risks escalate to organ damage and even death.

With over 2.41 billion workers (or 70 percent of the global workforce) exposed to excessive heat annually, it is a growing concern. Since 2000, this exposure has surged by 34.7 percent. It has been driven by rising temperatures and an expanding labor force with vulnerable populations—particularly in countries with high rates of working poverty and informal employment—suffering the most.

From acute kidney injury to cardiovascular disease, the effects are broad. Increased instances of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety and even suicidal tendencies, have all been linked to chronic exposure.

Productivity and Heat Stress

A significant decline in global productivity is estimated to be partly attributed to the adverse effects of heat stress. The UNFCCC echoes the seriousness of heat stress as an outcome of climate change and its implications for labor and productivity.

The ILO's Working on a Warmer Planet report projects that by 2030 2.2 percent of total working hours worldwide will be lost to high temperatures, amounting to productivity losses equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs, with an associated economic loss of about $2.4 billion.

The sectors expected to be the most adversely affected by heat stress are agriculture and construction. Agriculture alone is projected to account for 60 percent of global working hours lost due to heat stress, with construction following at an estimated 19 percent by 2030.

The ILO’s research underscores the link between heat stress and broader economic, social and health effects, which could make tackling poverty and promoting human development more challenging. Consequently, this could impact the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ILO calls for national policies to address heat stress risks and protect workers, which could include infrastructure to cope with heat events, the implementation of international labor standards and measures at the workplace to adapt to high temperatures.

Employers and workers are urged to assess risks and take action to manage heat stress, which could involve providing drinking water, training on recognizing and managing heat stress, social dialogue to reach a consensus on working methods, adapting working hours, dress codes and equipment, and implementing new technologies.

OSHA's standards for workplace safety regarding heat are designed to protect workers from serious health risks. These standards ensure a safer working environment by addressing both heat-related illnesses and hearing loss risks.

Creating formal comprehensive heat safety plans are recommended by OSHA and require a thorough approach with regular review and adaptation to ensure they remain effective and aligned with their regulations. In today's AI world, there are no excuses for not keeping plans up-to-date with changing regulations.

AI's ability to ingest and comprehend every standard regarding workplace safety allows it to be an invaluable asset for a company when it’s directed at solving specific use cases inside health and safety. Generative AI like ChatGPT may not be able to provide high-value output, but AI that is built with EHS-first principles and knowledge-bases can create, guide and assist in building and maintaining exposure plans with incredible accuracy. According to McKinsey’s latest report on generative AI, organizations are already seeing material benefits from its use, reporting both cost decreases and revenue jumps in the business units deploying generative AI technology.

Medical experts caution that symptoms of heat exhaustion can commence even in relatively mild conditions, with temperatures in the low 80s Fahrenheit. Thus, adopting a uniform standard may not adequately prevent heat-related health risks for everyone.

Individual differences and various socioeconomic and physical conditions significantly influence vulnerability to heat stress. Specific health issues, such as heart disease and obesity, may intensify an individual's sensitivity to heat. Additionally, factors such as gender, age and genetic makeup play critical roles in determining one's susceptibility to heat-related ailments like heat exhaustion.

Furthermore, the combined impacts of heat, noise and ergonomics exposures on workers can significantly influence everything from physiological responses to cognitive functions.

Poor ergonomic practices in the presence of environmental stressors such as noise and heat may not only exacerbate the direct risk of injury or discomfort but also compound the cognitive and physical demands placed on workers. The additional stress from managing these simultaneous hazards could lead to increased fatigue, reduced attention to safety protocols and, ultimately, diminished well-being and productivity.

The rising challenge of occupational heat stress necessitates urgent and comprehensive action. As global temperatures continue to climb, the health and productivity of millions of workers are at increasing risk. Policymakers, employers and workers alike must recognize the severity of heat stress and implement effective measures to mitigate its impact. This includes adopting national policies, enhancing workplace safety standards, and leveraging advanced technologies like AI to develop and maintain robust heat safety plans. Addressing the multifaceted nature of heat stress—from direct health impacts to broader economic consequences—allows for better protection of workers and ensures a sustainable, productive future. The path forward requires a concerted effort to prioritize the well-being of those most vulnerable to heat stress, ultimately fostering resilience in the face of climate change.