Occupational Heat Stress, Adaptation and Prevention Policies (Worklimate 2.0)

Worklimate 2.0 is a project at the intersection of climate change and occupational health that builds on the success of HEAT-SHIELD and the launch project of Worklimate (see case study here). The project implements targeted interventions to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat exposure. The interventions are developed based on extensive research, with a multi-disciplinary approach that combines epidemiological analysis, field monitoring, technological innovation, and policy development.

The latest epidemiological study covered 8,092 Italian municipalities and analyzed 2.38 million workplace injuries that occurred between 2014 and 2019. This analysis revealed significant heat-related health risks, estimating that over 4,000 injuries per year in Italy are directly linked to heat exposure. Total compensation costs associated with extreme heat exposure were estimated at over €292 million between 2014 and 2019, equivalent to approximately €49 million per year. The highest risk of heat-related injuries was observed among young workers (under 35 years old) in both the construction and agriculture sectors. The project also quantified labor productivity losses, estimating a decrease of approximately 6.5% for every one-degree increase in temperature between 19.6°C and 31.8°C for workers engaged in physically demanding tasks requiring high metabolic effort. At the 99th percentile of heat exposure, the loss in workability was estimated to exceed 80% for high metabolic rate activities and around 75% for those with moderate metabolic rates.

A key outcome of the Worklimate project is its operational heat-risk forecasting system, which now supports real-time decision-making for employers and workers. This forecasting platform, based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), provides 3-day forecast warnings with four daily time intervals, classifying heat risk into four levels: none (green), low (yellow), moderate (orange), and high (red). Furthermore, Worklimate 2.0 has developed a geospatial WebGIS information tool to support work management under heat conditions. This online tool allows for the quantification and visualization of predicted workability loss at the municipal level for various daily working time slots, worker acclimatization levels, metabolic rates, and exposure conditions (sun or shade). It is considered the first international example of a climate service for heat-related workability loss to support work management in heat conditions.

Field-tested technological solutions, such as ventilated jackets, have demonstrated measurable benefits in reducing worker heat stress, with 86% of workers reporting positive feedback and willingness to use them. The project also created multilingual information materials.

Worklimate 2.0's most significant achievement has been the influence on regional public health legislation. In the summer of 2024, fifteen Italian regions issued urgent regional ordinances prohibiting outdoor work from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on days with "HIGH" heat risk, as forecasted by the Worklimate platform. These ordinances, which initially (2021-2023) only applied to agricultural workers in 3-4 regions, expanded in 2024 to cover central, southern, and parts of northern Italy. These measures protected approximately 1.7 million workers in the agriculture and construction sectors in 2024, representing a 460% increase in policy coverage compared to 300,000 workers in 2023. In 2025, 18 out of 20 Italian regions issued ordinances banning work during the hottest hours of the day throughout the summer months (in some regions until September 15), in response to occupational exposure to high temperatures. The sectors affected by these ordinances include agriculture and nursery/floriculture (mentioned in all ordinances), construction and quarrying (mentioned in all ordinances), logistics and bike/scooter delivery riders (cited in Lazio, Piedmont, Apulia, Marche, and Emilia-Romagna), and environmental hygiene (only in Calabria).

Outcomes and Impact

1.    Quantification and monitoring of health impacts:

• Annual compensation costs related to heat-induced workplace injuries were evaluated to €49 million
• Identified that heat exposure contributes to over 4,000 workplace injuries annually in Italy
• Observed the highest risk is for young workers (under 35) for both the construction and agriculture sectors
• Performed microclimatic and physiological monitoring of around 200 workers
• Developed 30 sector-specific case studies in agriculture, construction, multi-utility, and logistics sectors

2. Policy Implementation:

• Influenced adoption of regional ordinances prohibiting agricultural work from 12:30-4:00 PM during high-risk heat days, based on occupational heat-risk forecasts
• Policy coverage expanded from 300,000 workers in 2023 to 1.7 million workers in 2024) (a 460% increase) and is projected to exceed 2.5 million workers in 2025.
• The Italian National Labour Inspectorate and the Technical Coordination of the Regions for Occupational Health and Safety have identified the project's results as a key reference and incorporated Worklimate operational tools and guidelines for planning measures to counter and adapt to the risk of occupational heat exposure.

3.    Testing of technological solutions:

• Field-tested ventilated cooling jackets with 86% of workers reporting good feedback and willingness to use it when available
• Developed a customizable heat-risk forecasting platform providing 3-day forecast warnings with four daily time intervals
• Created multilingual information materials translated into more than 10 languages representing the predominant foreign workforce employed across the country.  
• Development of a geospatial WebGIS information Tool to support work management to evaluate the heat-related productivity loss.

4. Behavioral Change:

• Identified critical knowledge gaps: 33% of workers are unable to recognize heat stroke symptoms
• Established that over 40% of workers don't know the appropriate emergency response for heat illness
• Documented water consumption showed inadequate hydration, but also a lack of water accessibility for close to 7% of the interviewed workers
• An exploratory study showed a statistically significant reduction in injury rates (just over 20%) in regions that had issued regional ordinances to mitigate the effects of heat in the workplace.