Overview

• Drawing on five decades of evidence, the report cites ILO data showing more than 2.4 billion workers face excessive heat, causing over 22.85 million injuries and nearly 19,000 deaths each year.
• WMO confirms 2024 as the hottest year on record with days above 40–50°C increasingly common, heightening risks for outdoor sectors like agriculture, construction and fisheries and for heat‑intensive indoor work.
• The guidance calls for occupational heat action plans tailored to local conditions and job tasks, co‑designed with employers, workers, unions and public health experts.
• Recommended measures include targeted training to recognize often‑misdiagnosed heat illness, scheduled rest, shade and hydration, shift and workload adjustments, and practical cooling solutions that can scale.
• Health thresholds flagged include keeping core body temperature below 38°C during shifts and prioritizing protections for older workers, people with chronic conditions and others at higher risk.