Heat reduces labor productivity, leading employers to adjust work schedules. However, no international climate service exists for managing heat-related productivity losses. This study estimated summer workability loss (WL) across Italy for various 8-h work shifts and integrated the data into a WebGIS tool providing municipal-level insights. Global ERA5 climatological data (2009–2017) was downscaled to a 2.5 km grid over Italy and the workability equation calculated WL for different shifts (5am–1pm, 6am–2pm, 7am–3pm, 8am–4pm, 9am–5pm). The data was integrated into the Google Earth Engine (GEE) App for improved visualization. Compared to WL for workers performing high metabolic rate tasks in the sun, WL decreased significantly (p<0.01) for moderate metabolic rate tasks in the sun (60%) and for high metabolic rate tasks in the shade (over 90%). Starting shifts earlier than 9am reduced WL: by 4% starting 1 h earlier and nearly halving WL starting 4 h earlier (5am). The GEE “Worklimate 2.0 App” (https://ee-worklimate.projects.earthengine.app/view/workabilityloss) visualizes these findings. This study shows that rescheduling work hours and providing shade can significantly reduce WL in Italy, though additional heat adaptation strategies are needed to fully mitigate WL. The GEE App is the first international climate service for analyzing heat-related WL across working shifts.

The prediction of physiological strain is essential for the safety of personnel in high-risk environments especially when wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). This study aimed to develop a usability-enhanced variant of the Heat Strain Decision Aid (HSDA), named HSDA-FL (FAME Lab), by implementing automatic workload estimations, alternative environmental inputs, and a revised initialization delay logic. The second aim was to evaluate whether these modifications preserved the original model’s validity. The third aim was to evaluate the performance of HSDA, HSDA-FL, and the PHS-FL models while wearing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) PPE. Eleven acclimatized participants completed a 40-min simulated CBRN reconnaissance scenario involving walking and inspection tasks. The HSDA-FL was tested with both the original and the revised delay logic, demonstrated significantly lower residual errors than the original HSDA (p<0.001), with the revised delay logic variant achieving the highest accuracy (MAE=0.151°C, RMSE=0.191°C, bias=0.011°C). In contrast, the PHS-FL performed significantly worse than all HSDA-based models (p<0.001). These findings confirm that HSDA-FL maintains and slightly exceeds the predictive validity of the original HSDA while improving usability, whereas PHS-FL was not deemed sufficiently reliable for use with CBRN clothing.

This study evaluated the effects of evaporative cooling using a water-soaked inner t-shirt with a ventilation garment on physiological and perceptual responses during walking in Hot/Dry (40°C, 30% relative humidity) and Warm/Humid (32°C, 80% relative humidity) environments (wet-bulb globe temperature [WBGT] 31.5°C). Eight men performed a 60-min moderate-intensity exercise protocol under control (CON, fan-off of a ventilation jacket while wearing a dry inner t-shirt) and evaporative cooling conditions (EVA, fan-on of a ventilation jacket while wearing an inner t-shirt soaked with 350 ml of tap water) in each environment. Rectal temperature was ~0.4°C lower during exercise in EVA than CON in both Hot/Dry (37.7 ± 0.4 vs. 38.1 ± 0.3°C, p=0.001) and Warm/Humid (37.8 ± 0.4 vs. 38.2 ± 0.4°C, p=0.002), with no difference between environments. Whole-body sweat loss in EVA was halved compared to CON in both Hot/Dry (0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 1.08 ± 0.23 kg, p<0.001) and Warm/Humid (0.47 ± 0.10 vs. 1.12 ± 0.21 kg, p<0.001). Thermal sensation and discomfort were lower in EVA than in CON in both environments (both p<0.05). Thus, wearing a water-soaked inner t-shirt with a ventilation garment helps mitigate thermophysiological and perceptual responses in environments where ambient temperature exceeds skin temperature and in high humidity (≤ WBGT 31.5°C).

This article presents a comparative analysis of how collective bargaining and social dialogue contribute to protecting European workers from the effects of high temperatures linked to climate change. The study focuses on five European countries—Spain, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Hungary—which together provide a comprehensive and nuanced overview of the current situation across Europe. The methodology is primarily qualitative, based on 11 case studies (covering both sectors and companies), 60 interviews with key informants, and an in-depth analysis of the existing legal framework for heatwave prevention in both public health and occupational safety and health (OSH) contexts. The study also includes a detailed review of collective agreements and other social dialogue tools—such as heat action plans and OSH catalogues—to assess the extent to which high temperatures are addressed in collective bargaining in the selected countries. The empirical evidence reveals that high temperatures are still only marginally addressed in European collective bargaining, and significant challenges remain. Nevertheless, the fieldwork also identified several initiatives which, despite their limitations, represent steps forward in worker protection and could serve as examples of good practice.

Dutch occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation is characterized by its reliance on very general legal stipulations. The idea is that these broad, goal-oriented provisions leave room for tailor-made regulations at the company or sectoral level, leading to more effective risk management. This also goes for OSH legislation pertaining to heat at work. The general legal provisions on heat at work are to be fleshed out via social dialogue, in either collective labor agreements or ‘OSH catalogues’ at the sectoral level, or more specific arrangements at the company level. Analysis of all relevant labor agreements and ‘OSH catalogues’ reveals that these do seldom give proper guidance in managing heat at work. Most importantly, hardly any of these collective agreements contain a clear, science-based threshold for working in heat. Risk-assessment tools too are rather poor, and the proposed risk management measures in the ‘OSH catalogues’ do seldom follow the industrial hygiene strategy (prevention first, personal protection as a final resort). The Dutch approach of social dialogue at a sectoral level or company therefore is not very effective. Also, negotiating OSH standards at many different is not very efficient, and is at odds with common notions such as legal certainty, legal equality and transparency.

Climate change is already not only a global problem, but also poses a growing risk to the health and safety of workers. For this reason, this study analyses the measures taken as part of the ADAPTHEAT (Led by Fundación 1º de Mayo (Spain), with participation from Fondazione Di Vittorio (Italy), ELINYAE (Greece), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands), and the Hungarian Trade Union Confederation MASZSZ (Hungary)) project in Hungary to mitigate heat-related risks in the workplace. The research focuses on legislation and employers’ practices, which were analysed on the basis of risk assessments, collective agreements and case studies. The findings highlight that workplace heat stress is not only a concern in traditionally high-risk sectors such as agriculture but affects nearly all workplaces. Despite recent legislative changes in Hungary, the regulatory framework and employer obligations remain rather general. Therefore, raising awareness among employers and employees remains essential. The study also emphasizes the important role of trade unions and health and safety representatives in advocating for improved protection.

The study examines the role of collective bargaining in protecting workers from heat stress in Spain, a country that is particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures. Through an analysis of 596 collective sectoral bargaining agreements (CBAs) registered between 2020 and 2025, 14 heat action plans (HAPs), and 13 interviews with key actors, the integration of preventive measures into labor regulations is evaluated. Only 51 CBAs (8.6%) include preventive clauses that go beyond clothing measures and only 8 (1.3%) contained an adequate set of norms to address it in a more or less comprehensive manner. Company heat action plans, although more detailed and flexible, are highly heterogeneous and have limited coverage. Recent regulatory reforms in 2023 (RD-Law 4/2023) and 2024 (RD-Law 8/2024) require heat-specific measures and protocols for adverse weather events respectively, opening a window for strengthening prevention through sectoral and company agreements in the form of CBAs and HAPs. It is concluded that, despite some advanced examples, protection remains insufficient and uneven. The combination of a more precise legal framework, proactive collective bargaining and workers’ participation regarding heat stress prevention is essential to avoid the exacerbation of health inequalities in an increasingly warmer climate, especially in sectors and companies with weak union presence.

This study examines the role of trade unions and social dialogue in shaping the Italian prevention system for occupational health and safety (OHS) risks associated with heatwaves. Drawing on the European project Adaptheat, it addresses a research gap on the short-term impacts of climate change on the workforce and the interventions of social actors to address them. The methodology combined literature review, documentary analysis, and qualitative interviews with different stakeholders, including workers, in Apulian agriculture and in logistics warehouses. Findings show that trade unions have been pivotal in translating scientific evidence—particularly from the Worklimate project—into institutional measures and into collective bargaining agreements. Despite regulatory progress, the system relies mainly on regional ordinances, resulting in fragmented and reactive prevention rather than integrated and proactive planning. Compared with international benchmarks, the Italian case underscores the need to strengthen the regulatory framework, linking heatwave related OHS protection with broader labour and social rights.

This paper explores the current landscape of collective bargaining agreements in Greece, alongside the broader legislative framework governing occupational heat stress. The findings reveal that the existing framework regulating occupational heat exposure remains general and insufficient. The specific circulars on heat stress prevention do not carry the same legal weight as laws or presidential decrees. Therefore, the adoption of dedicated legislation addressing occupational heat stress is considered essential. Effective protection requires the implementation of preventive measures across all sectors, for all categories of workers, and throughout all periods—not only during officially declared heatwaves. Labour inspectorate workplace inspections should be intensified, as implementation legislation remains limited. Heat stress provisions are rarely included in collective bargaining agreements. The weakening of collective bargaining following the economic crisis has contributed to this gap. The role of trade unions and workers’ occupational safety and health (OSH) representatives is critical in strengthening collective bargaining and safeguarding workers from occupational risks. To improve heat stress management, the study highlights the need for expanded awareness-raising initiatives, sector-specific training, enhanced understanding and use of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, systematic recording of worker morbidity and mortality, and strengthened research efforts on heat stress prevention.