Heeding the Taiwan Labor Front's Call: Time for Action on Workplace Heat Hazards
By Rufus Ramsey / Daily Scribe journalist
Unhealthy temperatures strain worker well-being and economic growth, assert advocates
Soaring outdoor work hours due to sweltering temperatures resulted in a staggering economic loss of NT$39.7 billion (US$1.22 billion) last year, causing escalating health concerns among workers, as detailed yesterday by Greenpeace. With employees bearing the brunt of these losses, Greenpeace is spurring the government to intensify carbon reduction efforts and fortify work safety regulations.
Climate and energy campaigner Lydia Fang of Greenpeace East Asia led the charge at a news conference, emphasizing that heat hazards not only fuel environmental anxiety, but wreak havoc on the economy and society.
Fang explained that the Ministry of Labor's heat hazard prevention guidelines mandate a halt on outdoor labor when the heat hazard risk surges to level 3 or beyond—a guideline that was breached over 1,796 hours last year across the six special municipalities, according to her data. This escalation from 1,148 hours in the previous year was not lost on Fang, who further noted that such ignored hazards could cost the economy dearly.
To encourage decisive action, Fang pointed out the gap between Taiwan's [lacking] attention to economic losses due to heat hazards and the global trend—a trend highlighted by UK research revealing that hot days slashed their labor productivity by £5.3 billion (US$7 billion) in 2020.
Referring to CDC data, Fang also shared a concerning surge in the number of heat injury cases—an increase of 74.4 percent, from 1,622 to 2,829 cases, in the past three years among those aged 19 to 64.
Taking a cue from the Taiwan Labor Front, Son Yu-liam, the organization's secretary-general, urged the labor ministry to establish inter-agency collaboration, reinforcing the necessity for a legal obligation requiring employers to take action against workplace heat hazards, as indicated in Article 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法).
Citing the need for a more precise method of risk assessment for outdoor workers, such as delivery workers who frequently alternate between warm outdoor conditions and cool air-conditioned interiors, Son suggested this refinement could enable the development of laws granting workers the right to refuse or halt work during sweltering conditions.
Heat-related kidney injuries and illnesses plague agricultural workers globally, with research unveiling a 8 percent increase in the risk of chronic renal diseases for every 10°C rise in temperature—a risk more than double for agricultural workers. Investigations from National Taiwan University highlighted the disproportionate prevalence of chronic kidney diseases among agricultural workers, with 3.2 percent of agricultural workers affected, contrasted with 1.1 percent for the entire population [NTU study].
When heat-related illnesses can’t be attributed to non-climate factors like high blood pressure or diabetes, the gap in prevalence widens between agricultural workers (1.5 percent) and others (0.4 percent), hinting at dehydration due to excessive heat as a possible cause.
Sauna-like conditions at work pose a danger to workers' health. To counter this, experts recommend consuming 250ml of water every 20 minutes, while abstaining from alcohol or sugary drinks during work hours [Yang Hsiao-yu].
The Ministry of Economic Affairs is reminded to expedite the green transition from fossil fuels to renewables, and undertake an overall evaluation of the economic impact of heat hazards. Springing into action, the labor ministry should revise its guidelines to incorporate more industries, such as the food delivery sector, and educate employers on the essence of heat hazard prevention [Taiwan Labor Front proposal].
- Climate change, as detailed by Greenpeace, is contributing to soaring outdoor work hours and economic losses, causing health concerns among workers.
- Lydia Fang of Greenpeace East Asia emphasized that heat hazards impact both the economy and society, fueling environmental anxiety.
- The Ministry of Labor's heat hazard prevention guidelines mandate a halt on outdoor labor when the risk surges to level 3 or beyond.
- Last year, there were 1,796 hours when these guidelines were breached across the six special municipalities in Taiwan.
- Fang noted that such ignored hazards could cost the economy dearly, referencing the global trend that hot days slashed labor productivity.
- Heat injury cases among those aged 19 to 64 increased by 74.4 percent in the past three years, according to CDC data.
- Son Yu-liam, secretary-general of the Taiwan Labor Front, urged the labor ministry to establish inter-agency collaboration.
- Son suggested a refinement in the method of risk assessment for outdoor workers could enable the development of laws granting workers the right to refuse or halt work during sweltering conditions.
- Heat-related illnesses, including kidney injuries and chronic renal diseases, pose a significant threat to agricultural workers globally.
- For every 10°C rise in temperature, the risk of chronic renal diseases increases by 8 percent.
- Agricultural workers in Taiwan are disproportionately affected by chronic kidney diseases, with 3.2 percent affected, compared to 1.1 percent for the entire population [NTU study].
- Experts recommend workers consume 250ml of water every 20 minutes to combat heat-related illnesses at work.
- The Ministry of Economic Affairs is reminded to expedite the green transition from fossil fuels to renewables, and undertake an overall evaluation of the economic impact of heat hazards.
- The labor ministry should revise its guidelines to incorporate more industries like the food delivery sector and educate employers on the essence of heat hazard prevention [Taiwan Labor Front proposal].
- Implementing these measures will foster a safer and healthier lifestyle for workers, contributing to personal growth, business success, and sustainable living in the face of climate change.
