Geneva: A new report from the International Labor Organization (ILO) reveals a significant rise in heat stress among workers globally, attributing it to increasing temperatures worldwide. This escalation is impacting worker health and safety, with severe implications for productivity and economic stability, particularly in regions previously unaccustomed to such high temperatures.
According to International Labor Organization, the report titled “Heat at Work: Implications for Safety and Health,” emphasizes that heat stress is becoming an increasingly dangerous factor in workplaces around the world. It indicates that workers in Africa, the Arab states, and the Asia-Pacific region are the most affected, with a substantial percentage of their workforce experiencing extreme heat conditions. The data highlights that in 2020, 92.9% of workers in Africa, 83.6% in the Arab states, and 74.7% in Asia and the Pacific were affected by extreme heat.
The report further states that Europe and Central Asia have experienced the most significant increase in heat stress incidents over the past two decades, with the proportion of affected workers rising by 17.3%. In the same period, the United States and Central Asia have recorded the highest spikes in heat-related workplace accidents, stressing the urgent need for adaptive measures in these regions.
With an estimated 4,200 workers succumbing to heat waves in 2020 alone, the ILO underscores the critical need for comprehensive safety and health strategies to mitigate the risks associated with heat exposure. The organization suggests that improved safety measures could potentially save up to US$361 billion annually in lost income and healthcare costs globally.
The report calls for urgent action and international cooperation to develop and implement effective workplace heat protection plans. It stresses that addressing heat stress is not only a health and safety issue but also a human rights and economic concern, particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries.
“If there is one thing that unites our divided world, it is that we are all feeling the same warming. Everywhere, everyone,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, highlighting the universal challenge posed by rising temperatures and emphasizing the need for global efforts to protect workers based on human rights.
The ILO’s findings are an extension of their ongoing analysis of the impacts of climate change on labor, demonstrating that heat stress is a critical global issue requiring immediate attention and action.