The urgent need to adapt working conditions to global warming-driven heat waves to protect workers' health

Climate change poses one of the greatest public health challenges of the twenty-first century and directly affects the world of work. Rising global mean temperatures and increasingly intense heat waves are increasing workers' exposure to heat stress, with substantial consequences for physical and mental health and work capacity. This article discusses scientific evidence on the effects of heat waves on workers' health, including the underlying physiological mechanisms, clinical consequences, effects on productivity, and economic implications for businesses and supply chains. It also addresses public policies and technical standards governing occupational heat exposure, with particular emphasis on the Brazilian context. Global evidence documents record losses of working hours attributable to heat and mounting economic costs, demonstrating that adaptation to rising temperatures is both a worker health protection measure and a strategy for operational sustainability. Recognizing heat as a structural occupational hazard and incorporating heat-related risks into business management and public policy are therefore essential to protecting workers and ensuring economic resilience in an increasingly warmer climate.