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Occupational heat risk at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: implications for worker safety
Andrew J Grundstein1, Margaret C Morrissey2, Rebecca L Stearns3
1University of Georgia, Department of Geography, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Summary
Workers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup face significant occupational heat stress, especially in hot climates and during intense work. Venue-specific heat management plans are crucial for worker safety.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Safety
- Climate Science
Background:
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup will involve extensive outdoor work in the US, Mexico, and Canada during hot summer months.
- Previous research focused on player and spectator heat risks, neglecting workforce exposure.
- Tens of thousands of workers will be exposed to occupational heat stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate heat exposure risks for workers during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- To assess exceedance of occupational heat exposure limits across different cities and work conditions.
- To inform heat management strategies for the event workforce.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 30 years (1991-2020) of hourly meteorological data.
- Calculated wet-bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) for 16 host cities.
- Assessed exceedance of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limits (REL) and Recommended Alert Limits (RAL) for various workloads and work/rest schedules.
Main Results:
- Significant inter-city variations in WBGT were observed, with hot, humid locations frequently exceeding safety thresholds.
- Cooler cities, while generally safe, face acute risks during extreme heat events.
- Shading, acclimatization, and specific work/rest schedules significantly mitigate heat stress and limit exceedances of REL and RAL.
Conclusions:
- Venue-specific heat management plans are essential, considering local climate, workload intensity, and worker acclimatization status.
- FIFA and host cities should implement evidence-based measures including flexible scheduling, hydration, cooling stations, and acclimatization protocols.
- Contingency plans for extreme heat waves are necessary to ensure worker safety during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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