KUALA LUMPUR: Employers should regularly assess their operations for potential heat stress hazards in mitigating workforce health risks of extreme heat events.
International SOS Group of Companies in its guidelines said they should identify high-risk locations and activities and consider vulnerable employee profiles, including those with pre-existing health conditions or who perform strenuous outdoor work.
Additionally, it emphasised integrating heat safety into health and safety policies; making 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.
"Provide heat stress awareness and prevention training, deliver climate-specific training programmes that focus on working safely in extreme heat," it said in a statement.
The guidelines also stressed on educating employees on proper hydration practices and sun protection measures and enable them to adjust their work pace during high temperatures.
Employees should be trained to recognise heat stress symptoms and provide clear protocols for hydration, rest breaks and cooling down, it said.
"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.
"Conduct regular reviews of your organisation's heat response plans to ensure they reflect the latest information and best practices for heat safety."
Annually, 22.85 million occupational injuries and 18,970 work-related deaths are attributable to excessive heat, it said.
By 2030, the equivalent of more than two per cent of total working hours worldwide are projected to be lost every year, either because it is too hot to work or because workers have to work at a slower pace – a productivity loss equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs, it said.
This impact, it said, is expected to be particularly severe in Southern Asia and Western Africa, where lost work hours due to extreme heat could even reach five per cent.
It said workers across various sectors are impacted by extreme weather events.
However, it said, certain occupations are especially at risk as they involve more physical effort or tasking taking place outdoors.
"Industrial workers in indoor settings are also at risk if temperature levels inside factories and workshops are not regulated properly.
"At high heat levels, performing even basic office and desk tasks can be challenging as mental fatigue and physiological and cognitive decline set in due to heat strain."
Exposure to excessive heat can also lead to serious health risks, including heatstroke and even death.
Proactive measures by organisations are crucial to mitigate these risks and safeguard worker wellbeing and productivity.
"Heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and intense in many parts of the world.
"While often overlooked, heat waves are among the most dangerous natural hazards and pose a significant health and safety risk for the global workforce."
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