Extreme Heat Poses Threat to Worker Health and Efficiency as per United Nations' Warnings
In a groundbreaking report, the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and International Labor Organization have jointly highlighted the worsening risks posed by extreme heat to workers' productivity and health worldwide.
According to the study, approximately 26.2 million individuals lived with chronic kidney disease attributable to workplace heat stress in 2020. The report emphasises the plight of vulnerable communities, often in developing countries, who have limited access to cooling, healthcare, and protective labor policies.
The most affected industries globally are agriculture, construction, and fisheries, sectors that are increasingly facing heat stress due to climate change. This heat stress is impacting workers' health and productivity, a concern that is backed by data showing that for every degree above 20C (68F), worker productivity drops between 2% and 3%.
The report also notes that about 30% of workers under heat stress conditions reported reduced productivity. Furthermore, more than a third of people who frequently work in hot temperatures experience physiological heat strain, which is associated with conditions including impaired kidney function, dehydration, and neurological dysfunction.
Kidney problems are common among 15% of people who work under heat stress for extended periods. Rüdiger Krech, WHO's director of environment, climate change and health, identified extreme heat as a public health crisis, urging, "no one should have to risk kidney failure or collapse just to earn their living."
The report underscores the importance of cooling measures in mitigating these risks. Singapore, for instance, has linked its economic growth to the boost in worker productivity provided by air conditioning. The first prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, famously considered air conditioning to be the best invention of the 20th century.
The study on the effects of climate change on workers is the first major update since 1969, providing comprehensive evidence. It is particularly relevant in tropical climates, where the warning about the impacts of heat stress on workers is particularly poignant.
While the International Labor Organization's specific contributions to the study are not detailed, it is clear that they are involved in addressing the issue, working towards ensuring that workers in vulnerable communities have access to cooling, healthcare, and protective labor policies. The report serves as a call to action for governments, industries, and communities to prioritise worker safety and wellbeing in the face of climate change.
