The report "Climate Change and Heat Stress in the Workplace," a joint analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), draws attention to the growing risks that extreme heat poses to workers' health and recommends measures to mitigate them for governments, employers, and health authorities.

The health risks of increasingly frequent heat waves increase for both outdoor and indoor workers, including "heat stroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and neurological disorders."

All of these "harm long-term health and economic security," the organizations point out in a joint statement about the report, adding that "approximately half of the global population suffers adverse consequences from high temperatures."

According to recent reports from the International Labour Organization (ILO), excessive heat is the cause of more than 22.85 million worker injuries worldwide.

"Heat stress [when the human body's ability to regulate its temperature is hampered by very hot or cold environmental conditions] is already harming the health and livelihoods of billions of workers, especially in the most vulnerable communities," said Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, quoted in the statement.

Farrar said the analysis "offers practical, evidence-based solutions to protect lives, reduce inequality, and achieve more resilient workforces" to address global warming.

The fact that 2024 was "the hottest year on record" and that daytime temperatures above 40°C and even 50°C are becoming "increasingly common" are clear indications for the WMO that "immediate action is needed to address the growing impact of heat stress on workers worldwide."

"Heat stress at work has become a global societal challenge, no longer limited to countries near the equator, as evidenced by the recent heat wave in Europe," said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett, adding that "protecting workers from extreme heat is not only a health imperative, but also an economic necessity."

The report recommends developing health policies with specific plans, taking into account climate patterns, workplaces, and worker vulnerabilities, with a focus on older workers, those with chronic health conditions, and the least physically fit.

Other recommendations include educating and raising awareness among first responders, health professionals, employers, and workers to recognize and appropriately treat cases of heat stress, as well as involving all stakeholders (workers, unions, experts, local authorities, etc.) in the creation of "heat health strategies."

It also recommends adopting "technologies that can help protect health while maintaining productivity," and supporting further research and evaluation of these measures.

"This report represents a key milestone in our collective response to the growing threat of extreme heat in the world of work," said Joaquim Pintado Nunes, ILO chief for occupational safety and health, quoted in the statement.

He added that the organization he represents, together with the WHO and WMO, "for urgent and coordinated action to safeguard the health, safety, and dignity of the more than 2.4 billion workers exposed to excessive heat worldwide."