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for workforce health and safety. Occupational heat stress used to be primarily an outdoor
               concern, but with rising temperatures, even indoor workplaces without proper ventilation can

               become dangerous. Organisations must go beyond basic heat stress prevention and integrate
               heat stress risk assessments into  their  health  and safety policies. Furthermore, training
               employees to recognise early signs of heat illness is critical. Early intervention can prevent a

               medical  emergency  and  long-term  health  consequences.  By  fostering  a  culture  of  heat
               awareness and encouraging frequent hydration and breaks during peak temperatures,

               organisations can empower their workforce to stay healthy and safe.

               “It is also important for organisations to be able to distinguish the different stages of heat-
               related illness. Heatstroke, the most severe heat illness, is a medical emergency and can

               cause long term impact if prompt medical attention is not given. Symptoms include a core
               body  temperature  exceeding 40°C,  nausea and/or  vomiting,  confusion  and  seizures.
               Recognising the early  signs of heat stress,  such as sweating,  dizziness,  headache  and

               cramps, allows swift intervention to prevent escalation to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”



               International SOS offers guidelines for organisations to mitigate workforce health risks

               of extreme heat events:

                   1.  Conduct heat-specific risk assessments:  regularly  assess  your operations for

                       potential heat stress hazards. Identify high-risk locations and activities and consider
                       vulnerable employee profiles,  including those with  pre-existing health conditions or
                       who perform strenuous outdoor work.

                   2.  Integrate heat safety into health and safety policies: make heat stress prevention
                       a core component of your health and safety policies. Ensure workers have access to
                       shaded areas for breaks, hydration stations to keep hydrated and allow for breathable

                       workwear suitable for high temperatures.
                   3.  Provide heat stress awareness and prevention training: deliver climate-specific
                       training programmes that focus on working safely in extreme heat. Educate employees

                       on proper hydration practices and sun protection measures and enable them to adjust
                       their work pace during high temperatures. Train employees to recognise heat stress

                       symptoms and provide clear protocols for hydration, rest breaks and cooling down.
                   4.  Develop  robust  heat  response  protocols:  develop  well-defined  procedures  for
                       responding  to heat-related illnesses, including first aid and emergency evacuation.

                       Communicate these protocols effectively and ensure your workforce knows who to
                       contact in case of a heat emergency.

               1. Ebi, K L et al. (2021) | ‘Hot Weather and Heat Extremes: Health Risks’, The Lancet, 398: 10301, pp 698–708.
               2. Copernicus Climate Change Service | ERA5 dataset
               3. International Labour Organization | Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate
               4. International Labour Organization | Working on a warmer planet: The impact of heat stress on labour productivity and decent work
               5. Global Heat Health Information Network | Manage and Adapt to Heat at Work
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