How Can Heat Stress Impact Your Productivity & Work: Here's All You Need To Know
The global phenomenon of climate change has been exerting unforeseen and unexpected changes in weather patterns over the past years. The increase in surface temperatures across the world, rising sea levels, and changes in rainfall patterns are wreaking havoc on ecosystems and impacting human health and productivity in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago.
Agencies like NOAA Climate.gov, which monitor the rate of change in the earth’s temperature, have revealed that the earlier average rate of temperature change which was 0.08 degrees Celsius every 10 years, has now increased to 0.18 degree Celsius since 1981. This has led to countries like India witnessing unprecedented heat waves. In fact, 2022 was one of the hottest years recorded in more than a century.
Higher temperatures have a significant impact on work performance and affect individual productivity – both at home and at work. Even small increases in temperature play a role in this. Research done over the past several decades shows that the ideal ambient temperature for efficient human performance lies between 20-22 degree Celsius.
Working in conditions beyond this temperature range has been shown to affect efficiency even for those engaged in sedentary work. Studies have shown that productivity declines by approximately 1 per cent for every degree that the temperature rises above 25 degree Celsius. In extreme heat, productivity can drop by as much as 20 per cent, which can have a significant impact on a company's bottom line.
Why does this happen?
Whenever there are higher temperatures encountered, the physiological processes in our body lead to the diversion of blood supply away from the brain to the skin and extremities. This causes sweating and subsequent evaporation that helps to regulate the body’s core temperature. This diversion of blood, however leads to lower focus and concentration, leading to delayed completion of tasks and errors.
Coupled with the release of the stress hormone cortisol, this affects the ability to think clearly before making decisions, leading to impacted performance. Heat can also affect mental and emotional states which in turn can impact productivity and lead to workplace conflicts.
The most vulnerable ones are those whose occupations demand outdoor work in the energy-sapping heat. Working in such conditions leads not only to a lowered ability to work but also a lower willingness to work. Conditions like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration are all too common in these individuals and manifest in symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, and fatigue, which can make it difficult to concentrate and perform.
Needless to say, employers need to be cognizant of this and implement measures to mitigate the risks to their workforce. In my role as a Health Partner to corporate leadership teams, I have seen that understanding heat exposure risks that organizations and employees face is only a starting point. As temperatures increase, conducting a proper Heat Risk Assessment for all business units and activities is critical to formalizing a Heat Exposure Management Plan for the organization.
Some other strategies that can help are as follows:
Awareness: Making employees aware of the risks and what they can do to prevent heat illnesses helps. Heat first-aid training sessions can help managers and employees like to identify the onset of symptoms in themselves and their co-workers, which in turn can help in limiting any consequences.
Hydration: While providing adequate amounts of clean drinking water is a must, employers must also make oral rehydration salts available. Reminding employees to drink water and other fluids often, is essential. For every 20 minutes of outdoor work, at least one or two cups of water need to be consumed.
Control the controllable: Temperatures at the workplace can be controlled by using air conditioning, fans, and other cooling devices to keep employees comfortable. While this is done, the value of air circulation cannot be overstated. Having a fan working at a low speed in an air-conditioned environment helps with circulation. Prevent heat radiation by using sun control films on windows and insulation on hot surfaces like pipes in factories.
Flexibility: Allowing employees to start work earlier helps in ensuring that a majority of the workforce does not commute during peak heat hours. Encourage employees to take frequent breaks throughout the day. A work-rest schedule needs to be implemented that takes into account the nature of the work being performed.
Attire: Allowing climate-appropriate clothing in areas of high temperatures can help employees perform better. Uniforms made of thick fabric and tight clothing made from synthetic fabrics can quickly reduce productivity. Use cotton clothing in lighter shades as much as possible.
International SOS’ ESG experts are already helping large and small organizations to ensure that appropriate policies and protocols are in place to mount a comprehensive response against this rising challenge. The impact of heat on productivity in the workplace is too significant to be ignored as a seasonal occurrence. With climate change, seasons themselves may not follow the usual patterns. Employers must be proactive in assessing their exposure and drawing up a response that mitigates the threat to employees' productivity and health.
_20241204111757_original_image_1.webp)