Managers urged to shield workers from rising heat stress

Employers should take action to protect outdoor workers from mounting heat stress, a local environmental health officer has urged, as rising temperatures and longer heatwaves put agriculture, fisheries and construction labourers at growing risk.

Guyana’s tropical location places it among the hottest zones in the world, and its construction boom is exposing more workers to extreme conditions for longer hours. The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have both cautioned that such exposure threatens not only health but also national economies.

Nayan Persaud, an environmental health officer, told the News Room that the impact goes beyond the physical strain of high temperatures.

“Those who work outdoors and are exposed to heat are not only feeling the effects of rising temperature, but persons with chronic conditions should take more precautions,” Persaud said. “These are people with cardiovascular or respiratory issues. The heat will allow these health effects to exacerbate.”

He said global temperatures have risen by about 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal over the past century in Guyana, leading to longer and more frequent heatwaves. Mental health is also at risk, with prolonged exposure linked to anxiety, depression and heightened stress.

Persaud stressed that managers must ensure their staff have access to shade, hydration and regular rest breaks.

“I believe managers and persons in charge of big construction sites, with a lot of workers, should ensure that their workers are staying hydrated and taking breaks when needed,” he said.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include dizziness, nausea and fatigue, while heat stroke can present with dry skin, confusion and loss of consciousness. Persaud advised regular breaks at least once an hour, hydration with water or coconut water as a natural electrolyte source, and the use of loose, light-coloured clothing.

His comments come as UN agencies press employers and health authorities to adopt occupational heat action plans, warning that without urgent measures, both workers’ lives and economies will suffer as the planet continues to warm.