NEW YORK, Aug 23: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have issued a stark warning about the growing risks posed by extreme heat to workers worldwide, as climate change drives increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.

Their new report highlights that millions of workers are exposed to heat stress, which not only endangers their health but also reduces productivity. The organizations urge governments, employers, and workers to collaborate on adaptation strategies to protect those most at risk.

Although the WHO has repeatedly cautioned about the dangers of extreme heat, this is its first report since 1969 focusing specifically on heat stress in the workplace. Rüdiger Krech, the WHO's director of environment, climate, and health, described the findings as a wake-up call.

“It is not just discomfort. It is a real health risk,” Krech told the BBC. “If you’re working in heat and your body temperature rises above 38 °C over a prolonged period, you risk severe heat-related stress, stroke, kidney failure, and dehydration.”

The report comes amid record-breaking temperatures around the world. According to the WMO, the past decade has been the warmest on record, with 2024 marked as the hottest year ever. Parts of Europe are seeing temperatures exceed 40 °C (104°F), while regions in Africa and the Middle East have reached 50 °C. Average Mediterranean surface temperatures in July hit a record 26.68C. In the UK, the Met Office reported that this summer is on track to be one of the warmest since records began in 1884.

Heatwaves not only threaten health but also reduce workplace output. The WHO notes that productivity drops by 2% for every one-degree increase in temperature above 20C. Workplace accidents also rise, with Switzerland’s national accident insurance fund (Suva) reporting a 7% increase during the 2023 heatwave when temperatures surpassed 30 °C. Factors included decreased concentration and sleep disruption due to extreme heat.

Construction and agricultural workers are particularly vulnerable. European nations are taking action: last month, Italy enacted an emergency decree allowing work to be halted during the hottest hours, following an agreement with unions and employers. During Switzerland’s 2023 heatwave, construction projects in Geneva and Ticino were temporarily paused, a move supported by the country’s largest trade union, Unia.

“Workers are under pressure to keep building even when it’s extremely hot,” said Unia’s Nico Lutz. “Companies need to take responsibility and accept that above certain temperatures, continuing work is irresponsible, even if it means schedules take longer.”

The WHO report also emphasizes that the elderly, the chronically ill, and children are at heightened risk. Schools, like workplaces, need to adapt. In Germany, the “Hitzefrei” system allows schools to close during extreme heat, but increasingly frequent hot days make such closures challenging.

Dagmar Rösler, head of the Swiss teachers’ association, highlighted the need for school renovations, including improved ventilation and air conditioning, to ensure students and teachers can work safely and comfortably.

Krech stressed that adaptation requires cooperation among governments, employers, local councils, and education and health authorities. Simple measures, such as heat-appropriate school uniforms, could make a difference, he suggested.

However, he warned that failing to invest in adaptation could have costly consequences. “If you don’t invest in protecting workers and students from heatwaves, you risk severe health impacts and productivity losses,” Krech said. “The cost of inaction may far exceed the cost of adaptation.”