Page 59 - INTERNATIONAL SOS PR REPORT JUNE 2024

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