Expert warns of heat's impact on mental health, productivity: reports
Employers have been warned that extended exposure to heat can negatively impact workplace productivity and mental health in the first-ever conference aimed at addressing rising heat in Southeast Asia.
The First Global Heat Health Information Network - Southeast Asia Heat Health Forum was conducted at the Parkroyal on Beach Road, The New Paper reported.
On its second day, International Labour Organisation senior economist Ken Shawa took to the floor to warn employers about the impact of rising heat on employees.
"Heat stress is a silent killer. Many people are not aware that they are being affected by heat," said Shawa, as quoted by the TNP.
"Prolonged heat exposure can affect your mental health... If you are irritated, angry or depressed, [it] can affect your work productivity."
Shawa, who is also the head of regional and economic analysis unit in the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, further warned that excessive heat can result in emotional stress, anger, mental fatigue, and anxiety.
This can lead to issues on work output, workplace conflicts, low worker morale, as well as workplace absenteeism, as he was reported saying by TNP.
The impact of rising temperatures isn't also limited to outdoor workers, as Shawa said indoor staff who work in poorly ventilated places or near machinery that generates heat are also at risk.
To address the issue, the ILO senior economist advised workers to take proper breaks.
He also urged employers to give counselling sessions to workers affected by the heat so they can have a safe space to talk about it.
"It is important... to make people aware of the effects of heat stress on mental health so that when they have some of the symptoms, they will know that they are being affected by heat," he said as quoted by TNP.
Excessive heat was the reason for 22.8 million occupational injuries as of 2020, according to an ILO report released last year.
"Heat is an invisible force - a silent killer," the report read. "As record-breaking temperatures continue across various regions, more workers than ever before are losing the fight against excessive heat."
Various governments in Asia have been taking steps to protect employees from the heat.
In Singapore, it revised last year its framework aimed at protecting outdoor workers from heat stress to be more aligned with the three-tier Heat Stress Advisory for the general population.
In Hong Kong, the government there also introduced a three-tier heat warning system to reflect weather warnings about significant heat stress and health risks posed by the weather.
