Heat stress at work

Heat Stress at Work examines how extreme heat affects workers across sectors, particularly those in high-exposure roles or due to existing inequalities and vulnerabilities. It analyses workplace practices, regulatory settings and economic pressures that influence risk, and highlights consequences for health, productivity and business continuity. This report identifies practical opportunities to strengthen worker protection and embed heat risk management within occupational health and safety systems.  

Key takeaways include:

• Extreme heat is an escalating occupational risk, threatening workers’ health, safety, wellbeing and productivity across multiple sectors.
• Exposure is uneven and amplified by working conditions, particularly for outdoor workers, those undertaking physically demanding tasks, wearing heat-trapping protective gear, or working in poorly ventilated or heat-intensive indoor environments.
• Heat creates both acute and long-term risks, from immediate illness, injury and workplace accidents to cumulative health impacts and sustained productivity losses.
• Vulnerability is shaped by power and precarity, with insecure and low-paid workers often lacking the agency to advocate for safe conditions or cease unsafe work.
• Heat is a collective hazard requiring systemic solutions — stronger regulation, clearer workplace thresholds, enforcement, preparedness and coordinated action across government, industry, employers and workers are essential to ensure safe working conditions.