Protecting workers from extreme heat in low- and middle-income countries – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Report on Protecting Vulnerable Workers from Extreme Heat in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Introduction: A Public Health Crisis Intersecting with Sustainable Development Goals

A recent analysis from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, published in The BMJ, highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to protect workers in low- and middle-income countries from the escalating threat of extreme heat. The report underscores that current workplace-centric safeguards are insufficient, failing to address the holistic nature of heat exposure which impacts multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Challenges to Achieving SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Existing government regulations mandating employer-led heat protection measures fail to cover the most vulnerable segments of the workforce, presenting a significant barrier to achieving SDG 8.

• Informal Economy Exclusion: In many developing nations, up to 98% of the workforce is employed informally, placing them outside the scope of government regulation and occupational safety protections.
• The “Gig Economy” Dilemma: Workers in short-term, flexible jobs lose direct earnings when taking necessary rest breaks, disincentivizing self-protection from heat stress.
• Incomplete Strategies: While important, conventional workplace protections are inadequate on their own. These include:
  1. Additional rest breaks
  2. Provision of hydration stations
  3. Limiting work during peak heat hours
  4. Acclimatization programs

Compounded Risks to SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities)

The analysis reveals that the threat of extreme heat extends beyond the workplace, creating a continuous cycle of exposure that undermines both public health and the development of sustainable communities.

• Continuous Heat Exposure: Many informal and gig economy workers reside in homes lacking adequate ventilation or cooling mechanisms, denying them any respite from extreme temperatures and directly threatening their health and well-being (SDG 3).
• Inadequate Housing Infrastructure: The lack of climate-resilient housing is a critical failure in creating sustainable and safe human settlements, a core target of SDG 11.

Recommendations for an Integrated Approach Aligned with Climate Action (SDG 13)

The researchers conclude that ensuring cooler living conditions is one of the most effective protections for workers. This requires a dual focus on both homes and workplaces, representing a critical climate adaptation strategy in line with SDG 13.

Key Interventions:

1. Immediate Housing Improvements: Implement solutions such as “cool roofs” that reflect sunlight and install ventilation ports to reduce indoor temperatures.
2. Long-Term Investment: Prioritize the construction of climate-resilient homes as a long-term public health and sustainability investment.

Advancing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) Through Community-Led Research

A significant finding is the geographical bias in current research, with most studies on heat’s impact conducted in wealthy countries. To create effective and equitable solutions, this imbalance must be corrected.

• Addressing Research Gaps: Policymakers in low- and middle-income countries are underprepared due to a lack of context-specific data.
• Community Collaboration: The report calls for “evidence generating collaborations between communities and scientists.” This approach ensures that investments are optimized and solutions are meaningful to those most at risk.
• Contextually Intelligent Policy: Policies grounded in evidence from at-risk communities are more likely to be adopted, sustained, and effective, thereby reducing the inequalities (SDG 10) exacerbated by climate change.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on protecting workers from extreme heat in low- and middle-income countries addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals identified are:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core issue is the threat extreme heat poses to the physical health and well-being of workers. The article discusses the physiological impacts of heat and the need for safeguards to prevent heat-related illness and death.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article focuses on workplace safety and the protection of labor rights. It specifically highlights the vulnerability of workers in the informal economy and “gig economy,” who lack formal protections and face lost earnings if they take breaks, directly connecting to the goal of promoting safe and secure working environments for all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: A significant part of the proposed solution involves improving living conditions. The article advocates for “cool roofs,” better ventilation, and the construction of “climate-resilient homes,” which aligns with the goal of ensuring access to adequate and safe housing.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The problem of extreme heat is presented as a direct consequence of climate change. The article discusses the need for adaptation solutions to build resilience against climate-related hazards, which is the central theme of this goal.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article explicitly mentions that the workers most at risk are “impoverished.” Their inability to afford adequate housing with cooling mechanisms or to miss work due to heat exacerbates their poverty, linking the issue directly to poverty reduction.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and solutions discussed, the following specific SDG targets are relevant:

• Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers… and those in precarious employment.” The article’s central theme is the need for safeguards for workers, especially the “up to 98% of the workforce” in developing countries who are informally employed and unprotected by government regulations.
• Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The entire analysis focuses on adapting to the climate-related hazard of extreme heat. The proposed solutions, such as workplace protections and climate-resilient homes, are measures to increase adaptive capacity.
• Target 11.1: “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…” The article argues that workplace protections are “incomplete” without also ensuring “cooler living conditions.” It directly proposes improvements to homes like “cool roofs” and “ventilation ports” as essential protections.
• Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.” Extreme heat is a major public health risk, and the article calls for policies and solutions to manage this threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the risk is most severe.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not cite official SDG indicators, but it provides information that can be used as practical, implied indicators to measure progress:

• For Target 8.8:
  • Proportion of the workforce covered by heat-related labor protections: The article implies this is currently very low, as it states that existing strategies “don’t reach everyone” and that up to 98% of the workforce in developing countries is informally employed and “unprotected.”
• For Target 11.1:
  • Proportion of the population living in homes with adequate cooling or climate-resilient features: The article implies this is a key metric by stating that many informal workers “live in homes without adequate ventilation or cooling mechanisms.” Progress could be measured by the adoption of “cool roofs” and other housing improvements.
• For Target 13.1:
  • Implementation of adaptation solutions grounded in community input: The article stresses that “policies and solutions grounded in contextually intelligent evidence from within at-risk communities are more likely to be adopted, sustained, and effective.” An indicator would be the number of policies developed through collaboration between communities and scientists.
• For Target 3.d:
  • Reduction in heat-related morbidity and mortality: While not providing numbers, the article’s purpose is to prevent the negative health effects of extreme heat. A reduction in heat-related illnesses among workers would be a direct measure of success.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hsph.harvard.edu