The United Nations on Friday called on governments and employers to act urgently to protect workers increasingly exposed to extreme heat.
Rising global temperatures and more frequent, intense heatwaves are already affecting workers’ health worldwide, the U.N. said in a long-overdue update to guidance last issued in 1969.
According to the report, worker productivity drops 2-3% for every degree above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), with half of the world’s population already feeling the effects of rising temperatures.
The health risks include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction and neurological disorders, the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization said.
Manual workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction and fisheries, as well as vulnerable populations like children and older adults in developing countries, are particularly at risk, the agencies added.
