ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have sounded the alarm on heat stress, warning that rising global temperatures pose a growing occupational health crisis.
In a joint report released on Friday, the agencies said productivity drops by 2–3% for every degree above 20°C, with half of the world’s population already exposed to harmful heat levels.
Workers in farming, construction, and fisheries are most at risk, though indoor labourers without cooling also face danger. Officials noted recent heatwaves in Europe highlight that the crisis is no longer confined to tropical regions.
The report recommends urgent measures, including occupational heat action plans, improved collaboration among unions and health experts, and sustainable cooling solutions. Medical staff and employers should also be trained to detect heat-related illnesses.
The guidance builds on International Labour Organisation (ILO) data showing 2.4 billion workers endure excessive heat yearly, leading to over 22 million workplace injuries.
WHO and WMO leaders hailed the recommendations as a milestone in global workplace safety, urging governments to act swiftly.
“Protecting workers from worsening climate-driven heat stress is vital to saving lives, livelihoods, and economies,” the report concluded.
