The HEAT-SHIELD project — Perspectives from an inter-sectoral approach to occupational heat stress

ObjectivesTo provide perspectives from the HEAT-SHIELD project (www.heat-shield.eu): a multi-national, inter-sectoral, and cross-disciplinary initiative, incorporating twenty European research institutions, as well occupational health industrial partners, on solutions to combat negative productivity effects caused by working warmer world.MethodsIn this invited review, we focus theoretical methodological advancements developed heat stress during last five years of operation.ResultsWe outline how created climate forecast models incorporate humidity, wind solar radiation traditional temperature-based projections, providing basis for timely, policy-relevant, industry-specific individualized information. Further, summarise guidelines regarding technical biophysical cooling considering effectiveness, cost, sustainability, practical implementation potential in outdoor indoor settings, addition field-testing selected with time-motion analyses evaluations. All recommendations were adjusted following feedback workshops employers, employees, safety officers, adjacent stakeholders such local or national policy makers. The cross-scientific approach was also used policy-relevant information based socioeconomic identification vulnerable regions considered be more relevant political actions than average continental interventions.DiscussionFrom experiences within discuss inter-sectoral may adopted translated into actionable knowledge across continents where workers societies are affected escalating environmental temperatures.