Climate change and heat stress.

The article focuses on the impacts of climate change–induced heat exposure on worker health and safety, highlighting increased risks of heat-related illness, injury, and fatalities, particularly among outdoor laborers. It discusses the variability and insufficiency of global heat-related workplace regulations, noting examples such as Spain, Greece, and Qatar, while pointing out the absence of a federal heat standard in the USA. The article outlines assessment methods for heat stress risk, including the use of the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and tiered risk assessments, and emphasizes the importance of implementing a hierarchy of controls—from elimination to personal protective equipment—to mitigate heat hazards. It also addresses both acute and chronic health effects of heat exposure, including emerging concerns like chronic kidney disease among agricultural workers in tropical regions. The article concludes that effective heat stress management requires integrated physical, psychological, and environmental strategies, especially as climate change intensifies extreme temperature events.