Report: Excessive heat reduces workers’ productivity by 3%

A new report by the United Nations states that workers’ productivity drops by two to three percent for every degree above 20°C.

The report, titled ‘Climate change and workplace heat stress’, was jointly released on Friday by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

It is the first comprehensive UN publication on workplace heat stress since 1969.

According to the agencies, climate change is accelerating intense heatwaves, with half of the world’s population already suffering from the consequences of soaring temperatures.

The report said extreme heat poses serious health risks such as dehydration, heatstroke, kidney dysfunction, and neurological disorders.

It noted that manual workers in sectors like agriculture, construction, and fisheries, are particularly vulnerable, alongside children and older adults in developing countries.

According to the report, rising temperatures threaten not only health but also economic productivity. It added that the last decade was the warmest on record, and workers globally are literally feeling the heat.

The WHO and WMO called for urgent action from governments and employers to protect workers increasingly exposed to extreme heat.

The report recommended that adaptation strategies should be designed through collaboration between governments, employers, unions, workers, public health experts, and local authorities.

It urged the development of occupational heat action plans tailored to local conditions and job-specific risks.

The agencies also delineated the need for better training of health workers and first responders, noting that heat stress is often misdiagnosed.

The report linked workplace heat stress to several sustainable development goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, decent work, climate action, and good health and well-being.