For far too long, experts have warned us about the severe risks that extreme heat poses in our workplaces. Now, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense, we’re seeing a tragic increase in workers falling ill—and even dying—due to heat stress. It’s clear: our current labor laws are struggling to keep pace with these escalating dangers brought on by climate change.
This past summer, parts of southern Europe experienced scorching temperatures, often exceeding 115 degrees Fahrenheit. In response, local authorities across Greece, Italy, and Spain took decisive action, mandating that outdoor work cease during the hottest afternoon hours for weeks on end.
Meanwhile, Japan, grappling with unprecedented heat, introduced strict new rules. Employers are now legally required to safeguard their workers from heatstroke, with significant fines of up to $3,400 for non-compliance.
Singapore has also stepped up, requiring employers at major outdoor construction sites to install sensors that constantly monitor heat and humidity. Based on these readings, they must provide appropriate relief to workers.
Across the United States, while a comprehensive national heat standard remains in development, various cities are taking matters into their own hands. Boston, for instance, implemented a new law this summer. It mandates that all city-funded projects must have a ‘heat illness prevention plan,’ which includes training for crews to recognize heat-related sickness and ensures regular access to water and shaded rest areas.
However, many of these new regulations are still in their early stages and vary widely in their scope and effectiveness. Critics point out that enforcement is often weak, and these rules frequently clash with the realities faced by gig workers, who often feel compelled to continue working regardless of the temperature to make ends meet.
Yet, the very existence of these new laws highlights the immense challenge at hand. A recent report from the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization shockingly reveals that an estimated 2.4 billion people globally are currently exposed to hazardous heat levels at work.
Andreas Flouris, an expert on occupational heat strain and a professor at the University of Thessaly in Greece, emphasized, “Governments are finally acknowledging that extreme heat isn’t just an occasional problem; it’s a predictable, ongoing occupational risk demanding proper regulation and consistent enforcement, not just stop-gap emergency responses.”
Japan’s Proactive Steps and Unique Challenges with an Aging Workforce
While heatwaves are not new, the rapid increase in global temperatures, fueled by fossil fuel emissions, has led to a consistent breaking of heat records. The past three summers, for instance, were the warmest ever recorded across the Northern Hemisphere. This means that physically demanding jobs—like roof repair, agricultural work, or manufacturing in unventilated factories—have become critically dangerous. Both the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization now classify heat stress at work as a pressing global societal issue.
The aforementioned report highlights the grim reality: nearly 23 million workers annually suffer from occupational illnesses directly caused by extreme heat, ranging from kidney damage and dehydration to life-threatening heatstroke. These conditions severely compromise both long-term health and financial stability. Tragically, approximately 19,000 workers worldwide lose their lives each year due to heat-related injuries and illnesses.
In countries like Bangladesh, garment factory workers have shared harrowing accounts with advocacy groups, describing unbearable heat that causes them to faint on the job. Many are forced to reduce their work hours, sacrificing crucial income. The World Health Organization is strongly advocating for governments and employers to implement localized heat policies, specifically designed for various industries and regions.
Elsewhere, workers are finding their own solutions. In India, a union representing self-employed women, including seamstresses and vegetable vendors, now offers affordable insurance. This innovative scheme provides a small financial payout when temperatures reach hazardous levels, offering a vital safety net.
Within the United States, only seven states—California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—currently have specific heat-protection standards for workers. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is working to finalize national heat standards. Compounding the issue, some states, like Texas and Florida, have even passed laws preventing local governments from enacting their own rules for rest and water breaks, leaving many workers vulnerable.
Other nations are adopting distinct strategies to combat this crisis.
Japan’s Proactive Steps and Unique Challenges with an Aging Workforce
In Tokyo, it’s becoming common to see delivery workers equipped with innovative wristbands. These devices monitor core body temperature, alert wearers to potential heatstroke symptoms, and even prompt them to hydrate. Yamato Transport, Japan’s largest package delivery company, initiated this pilot program for 2,500 workers following the nation’s hottest year on record, a period marked by widespread health complaints from its workforce.
The extreme heatwave of 2024 spurred the Japanese government to fortify its occupational health guidelines. New regulations now mandate that employers provide adequate cooling measures whenever the wet-bulb globe temperature—a comprehensive measure of heat and humidity—hits 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). Non-compliance carries severe penalties, including fines up to 500,000 yen (about $3,400) or even imprisonment.
Beyond individual devices, Yamato has also deployed heat index sensors across all its offices and warehouses this year. Additionally, the company significantly expanded its provision of cooling vests, featuring attached fans, to 75,000 employees nationwide.
However, not all workers embrace the new equipment. Masami Tabata, a Tokyo delivery worker, expressed his reluctance to wear the cooling vest, stating, “I don’t like to be bothered by the weight as I have to move around a lot.”
These vests and wristbands are just a few examples of the numerous accessories Japanese companies are providing to outdoor workers. The offerings range from towels that cool down when wet to UV-protective shirts. While Yamato has boosted its budget for heat safety, the exact increase was not disclosed. Some companies are even incentivizing work on hot days with special bonuses.
Japan’s unique demographic profile, characterized by an aging population with a median age exceeding 48, amplifies its occupational heat risks. Older workers are considerably more susceptible to the detrimental effects of heat.
Mandatory Work Stoppages in Southern Europe
As heatwaves intensify and prolong, the concept of work stoppages is transforming from an extraordinary emergency measure to a necessary standard, as noted by Mr. Flouris. This shift is placing immense pressure on government authorities to implement more stringent regulations.
In Spain, current law dictates that outdoor work should be reduced or halted when the National Weather Service issues a red or orange heat alert, indicating severe risk. However, even this 2023 mandate proved insufficient this summer when temperatures consistently topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The tragic death of Montse Aguilar, a street cleaner who collapsed in Barcelona in June, prompted the city to swiftly implement even stricter measures. The investigation into her death is ongoing.
Similarly, Greece’s labor department enforced afternoon work stoppages across multiple regions during recurring heatwaves this summer, as temperatures consistently climbed above 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit).
Italy also saw widespread bans on outdoor work during afternoon hours throughout the summer. This was particularly harsh for delivery drivers, as these mandates directly translated to lost income.
An analysis by Allianz Research indicates that Europe’s summer heatwaves could curtail economic growth by half a percentage point across the continent. Furthermore, scientists studying heat-related fatalities in just 12 cities this summer concluded that climate change was responsible for tripling the number of deaths.
Singapore: Balancing Heat Risk and Migrant Worker Rights
Under a 2023 Singaporean law, employers at large outdoor work sites are primarily responsible for installing sensors that constantly monitor and display the wet-bulb globe temperature on-site.
The law outlines specific measures: when the wet-bulb globe temperature reaches 31 degrees, hourly water breaks are mandatory. At 32 degrees, workers must take a minimum of 10-minute rest breaks every hour, increasing to 15 minutes at 33 degrees. Employers are also advised to reschedule strenuous outdoor work to cooler parts of the day whenever possible.
While installing sensors is straightforward, the primary challenge lies with Singapore’s outdoor workforce, largely composed of temporary migrant workers. These individuals, mostly from poorer South Asian nations, depend on their temporary contracts to send earnings back to their families.
Surveys conducted by labor advocates earlier this year revealed a significant problem: workers are often hesitant to report health risks due to intense pressure to meet deadlines and insufficient enforcement of regulations. Consequently, heat stress incidents are believed to be severely underreported. Alex Au, Vice President of Transient Workers Count Too, a Singapore-based advocacy group, observed, “Many employers act with a sense of impunity. Migrant workers, already burdened by debt and reliant on their employers for job security, feel utterly powerless to voice concerns.”
These surveys also indicated that work stoppages on extremely hot days were rare, and some workers reported a complete absence of shaded rest areas.
Kabir Hossain Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi migrant and safety supervisor, recounted that when temperatures soared to 34 degrees Celsius earlier this year, numerous workers were forced to take sick days. While employers have generally shown more diligence regarding water and rest breaks since the law was enacted, some still require persistent prompting from their employees to comply with these vital provisions.
Alarmingly, government inspections last year revealed that almost a third of the 70 sites examined were not adhering to the new heat protection regulations.