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Peer-reviewedCC BYRevista brasileira de medicina do trabalho : publicacao oficial da Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho-ANAMT

The urgent need to adapt working conditions to global warming-driven heat waves to protect workers’ health

  • Danielle Campos Bedin1
  • João Silvestre Silva-Junior1,2
  • Evangelina da Motta Pacheco Alves de Araujo1,3
  1. 1Instituto Ar, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  2. 2Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Departamento de Medicina Legal, Bioética, Medicina do Trabalho e Medicina Física e Reabilitação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  3. 3Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Abstract

Climate change poses one of the greatest public health challenges of the twenty-first century and directly affects the world of work. Rising global mean temperatures and increasingly intense heat waves are increasing workers’ exposure to heat stress, with substantial consequences for physical and mental health and work capacity. This article discusses scientific evidence on the effects of heat waves on workers’ health, including the underlying physiological mechanisms, clinical consequences, effects on productivity, and economic implications for businesses and supply chains. It also addresses public policies and technical standards governing occupational heat exposure, with particular emphasis on the Brazilian context. Global evidence documents record losses of working hours attributable to heat and mounting economic costs, demonstrating that adaptation to rising temperatures is both a worker health protection measure and a strategy for operational sustainability. Recognizing heat as a structural occupational hazard and incorporating heat-related risks into business management and public policy are therefore essential to protecting workers and ensuring economic resilience in an increasingly warmer climate.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bedin2026urgent,
  title = {{The urgent need to adapt working conditions to global warming-driven heat waves to protect workers’ health}},
  author = {Danielle Campos Bedin and João Silvestre Silva-Junior and Evangelina da Motta Pacheco Alves de Araujo},
  journal = {Revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho : publicacao oficial da Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho-ANAMT},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.47626/1679-4435-2026-1623},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721877},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The urgent need to adapt working conditions to global warming-driven heat waves to protect workers’ health
AU  - Danielle Campos Bedin
AU  - João Silvestre Silva-Junior
AU  - Evangelina da Motta Pacheco Alves de Araujo
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
JO  - Revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho : publicacao oficial da Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho-ANAMT
DO  - 10.47626/1679-4435-2026-1623
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721877
AB  - Climate change poses one of the greatest public health challenges of the twenty-first century and directly affects the world of work. Rising global mean temperatures and increasingly intense heat waves are increasing workers’ exposure to heat stress, with substantial consequences for physical and mental health and work capacity. This article discusses scientific evidence on the effects of heat waves on workers’ health, including the underlying physiological mechanisms, clinical consequences, effects on productivity, and economic implications for businesses and supply chains. It also addresses public policies and technical standards governing occupational heat exposure, with particular emphasis on the Brazilian context. Global evidence documents record losses of working hours attributable to heat and mounting economic costs, demonstrating that adaptation to rising temperatures is both a worker health protection measure and a strategy for operational sustainability. Recognizing heat as a structural occupational hazard and incorporating heat-related risks into business management and public policy are therefore essential to protecting workers and ensuring economic resilience in an increasingly warmer climate.
SN  - 1679-4435
SN  - 2447-0147
ER  -