WHO Warns Workers About Extreme Heat Weather That Dangers Health

Hot weather illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a joint report, warning that extreme hot weather poses a serious risk to billions of workers, as climate change causes heat waves to be more frequent and intense.

The report entitled "Climate Change and Heat Pressure at Work" is based on evidence collected over the course of five decades and highlights the serious impact of rising temperatures on health and productivity.

According to WMO, 2024 will be the hottest year ever recorded, with the afternoon temperature above 40 degC and even 50 degC which is increasingly common.

"Hot pressure has endangered the health and livelihoods of billions of workers, especially in the most vulnerable communities," said Assistant Director-General of WHO for Health, Disease Prevention and Treatment Promotion, Dr. Jeremy Farrar.

"This new guideline offers practical proof-based solutions to protect the soul, reduce inequality, and build more resilient workers in the world that are heating up," he added.

The guidelines note that worker productivity drops to 2'3 percent for each temperature increase of one degree Celsius above 20$C.

Health risks associated with extreme heat temperatures include fever, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and neurological disorders, the report notes that about half of the world's population is already suffering from the adverse effects of high temperatures.

"Extreme heat exposure in the workplace has become a global social challenge, which is no longer limited to countries located near the equator such as recent heat waves in Europe," said WMO Deputy Secretary General Ko Barrett.

"The protection of workers from extreme heat is not only a health requirement, but also an economic necessity."

The two organizations are urging governments and companies to adopt heat management action plans in the workplace, raise awareness of the symptoms of hot stress, and design affordable and sustainable protection for workers.

"This report is an important milestone in our collective response to the growing threat of extreme heat in the world of work," said the Head of International Labor Organization's Safety and Health at Joaquim Pintado Nunes.