Heat Stress Assessment and Management in the Workplace in theContext of Climate Change. A comprehensive review of evaluationmethods and tools in the Italian regulatory framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36125/ijoehy.v17i1.597Keywords:
Heat stress; Occupational health; Climate change; Health surveillance; ItalyAbstract
AbstractBackground and objectives: Climate change is intensifying workplace heat exposures and reshaping the risk profile of multiple economic sectors. This review synthesizes the current state of practice for heat stress assessment and management within the Italian regulatory context, with reference to international guidance.
Methods: Has been conducted a narrative review integrating (i) European and Italian OSH legislation and policy, (ii) international technical standards and guidance, and (iii) institutional Italian tools and documents. Sources included Directive 89/391/EEC and the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021–2027, Italy’s Legislative Decree 81/2008 and recent institutional guidance (2025), UNI EN ISO standards (7243:2017; 7933:2023), the Italian Worklimate platform, and authoritative international guidance (WHO, EU‑OSHA, NIOSH, HSE).
Results: Heat is a recognized physical agent yet in consequence of climate change remains weakly codified compared with other agents. The Italian framework obliges employers to assess and manage microclimatic risks, supported by 2025 national guidance and sectoral notes. Assessment practices converge on a two‑tier approach: Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for screening and Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) for detailed analysis. Forecast‑based tools (e.g. Worklimate) are increasingly embedded in prevention. Health surveillance is pivotal to identify individual susceptibility and to adapt controls.
Conclusions: Protecting workers from heat stress due to climate change is both a legal obligation and a strategic requirement for enterprises. A forward‑looking approach—combining regulatory compliance, medical surveillance, model‑based assessment (WBGT/PHS), meteorological intelligence, and workers participation—can reduce incidents, sustain productivity, and build resilience. Italy offers a coherent pathway that could serve as a reference for EU-wide harmonization; however, a systemic and uniform regulatory approach remains desirable.
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