Heat and Hazard: The Unspoken Costs of Labor in Extreme Temperatures The recent scorching heatwave that swept through Hong Kong has brought attention to an often overlooked aspect of workplace safety: protecting workers from heat related illnesses.
Labour unions have taken a crucial step by calling for mandatory heatstroke prevention equipment, including fan cooled jackets, as well as recognizing heatstroke as a statutory occupational disease.
Historically, heat related illnesses have been viewed as unfortunate byproducts of outdoor work rather than preventable workplace hazards.