HEAT-SHIELD

Integrated inter-sector framework to increase the thermal resilience of European workers

Apr 12

Written By Ubåt

Integrated inter-sector framework to increase the thermal resilience of European workers

Summary

HEAT-SHIELD is a research programme funded by the European Union which aims in addressing the negative effects of climate change, i.e., increasing workplace temperature, on its working population. The effects of heat exposure includes productivity loss in many jobs, and HEAT-SHIELD studies this issue and its prevention in different sectors. In addition, heat strain because of the increased workplace temperature will pose health issues to the workers of the EU.

To address these issues, HEAT-SHIELD focuses on providing adaptation strategies for the five major industries of the EU and its workers: manufacturing, construction, transportation, tourism, and agriculture. Together, these industries represent 40% of the EU’s GDP and 50% of its workforce. Thus, by ensuring the health of the workforce, we can also shield our economy from the negative effects of climate change.

Research partners

University of Copenhagen; University of Thessaly; Interdepartmental Centre of Bioclimatology – University of Florence; Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology; TNO; Loughborough University; Institute Josef Stefan; University of Porto; University of Nicosia; University of Ljubljana; University of Wolverhampton; Lund University; MeteoSwiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology; Dutch National Health Service; Odelo Slovenia d.o.o.; Center for Technology Research and Innovation; Karditsa Travel Bureau; ACCIONA.

Stakeholder partners

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Ministry of Health – Public Health England; Ministry of Environment – Office of the Commissioner for the Environment Cyprus; BG Verkeh – Fed. Insurance Inst. for Safety & Health of Transport Workers Germany; Tuscany Region Health Care System; Int. Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel & Related Workers Associations Switzerland.