Heat waves as an occupational hazard: the impact of heat and heat waves on workers’ health, safety and wellbeing and on social inequalities
This paper explores the argument that weather-related heat stress should be considered an escalating occupational hazard that deserves full societal recognition in order to be considered as an emerging occupational risk requiring public action. Heat health is one of the main lines of action concerning climate change adaptation with strong evidence showing that protective interventions can radically reduce the impact of heat on mortality. As this fact is being recognised, urban authorities are being urged to change the surfaces of cities, the cladding of public and private buildings and the allocation of space to greener means of transportation and these lines of action are gaining support and resources.
