The rising business risk of heat strain
New WHO/WMO report shows how heat is reshaping health, productivity, and the future of work
The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have released a landmark report on workplace heat stress - their first major update since 1969. It highlights a challenge that is growing fast: heat strain in the workplace. It’s not only about hotter temperatures - workers are also overheating in factories, foundries, food production lines, confined spaces, and under heavy protective gear. The result: more than 2.4 billion workers at risk and sharp drops in productivity every year.
For companies, this is a material business issue. Heat strain reduces performance by 2–3% for every degree above safe thresholds, cutting into output, disrupting supply chains, and raising health costs. Industries that rely on intensive manual or physical work are already feeling the impact, but the effects reach far wider through global value chains.
The report calls for Occupational Heat Action Plans (OHAPs), powered by new technologies. From wearables that monitor health in real time to predictive platforms that anticipate risk weeks ahead, smart solutions are becoming essential to protect workers and secure operations. Investing in these measures isn’t just about safety - it’s about resilience, continuity, and long-term growth.