The workplace is rapidly becoming the next unsuspecting victim of climate change, with rising temperatures threatening millions of workers.
Extreme weather gripped Europe in a deadly chokehold this summer, as record-breaking temperatures fuelled unprecedented wildfires and severe droughts across the continent.
Leading scientists and epidemiologists found that climate change was responsible for tripling the death toll from Europe’s heatwaves, leading to an additional 16,5000 deaths.
Extreme heat is ‘workplace violence’
Out of the estimated 24,400 heatwave-related deaths recorded in Europe this summer, it was the passing of Montse Aguilar that caught the world’s attention.
The 51-year-old street cleaner collapsed on the streets of Barcelona in June after enduring a gruelling shift in 35℃ heat while the city was placed under high alert.
Aguilar’s death sparked local protests, with hundreds of fellow street cleaners and concerned citizens marching through downtown Barcelona armed with banners reading: “Extreme heat is also workplace violence”.
Even before the march, Barcelona’s City Hall issued new rules for the four companies contracted to clean its streets.
This includes providing workers with uniforms made out of breathable material, along with a hat and sun cream, and introducing hourly water breaks. Cleaning work in the city will now be suspended when temperatures hit 40℃.
A key risk to the workplace
A new report from International SOS has identified climate change-fuelled extreme heat as one of the key risks threatening the workplace.
It cites a recent study from the Lancet Countdown, which found that almost half the global population and more than one billion workers are exposed to high heat episodes, with around a third of all exposed workers experiencing negative health effects.
The report argues that measuring the ambient temperature (which excludes factors like wind and humidity, which can make temperatures feel a lot hotter than they are) is no longer an adequate way to assess the risk posed to the workforce. It predicts that more workplace regulations will be established in the future.
“Employers will not be able to rely on air temperatures alone to guide them when to adjust work activities,” the report adds.
“They must have extreme heat policies and associated actions which comply with these evolving regulations.”
However, adaptations to the workplace may unearth their own set of safety challenges. For example, floodlit night work in industries such as agriculture may help workers avoid extreme heat – but lower visibility and glare from lights could become hazardous.
Extreme heat impacts worker productivity
Even when not a threat to life, rising temperatures can have a significant impact on employees.
According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), worker productivity drops by two to three per cent for every degree above 20℃.
It warns that in order to sustain an eight-hour work shift, body temperature, which usually rests between 36.5℃ and 37.5℃, should not exceed 38℃.
“Potential disruptions in productivity affect millions of people in heat-vulnerable sectors such as agriculture and construction, but also undermine primary production and trade, while creating significant spillover effects on the economy,” the WMO adds.
Researchers warn that this slump in both labour supply and productivity is projected to worsen under future climate change in most parts of the world – but will disproportionately impact low-income countries, where the labour effects are projected to be high.
Climate change and its toll on workers’ mental health
While the link between mental health and the climate crisis has been well established, less is known about the relationship between mental health and workplace behaviours within an environmental context.
However, a 2022 study published in Occupational Medicine suggests that the psychological impact of extreme events could lead to increased job tension, higher turnover intentions and workplace hostility.
“Stress about extreme weather could also impede the ability to make essential work-related decisions, and for those who work in the environmental sector, concerns about climate could lead to overcommitment to work,” the study says.
It concludes that further research is needed to explore how staff can be supported and foster resilience amid the growing threat of climate change.
