Productivity Losses due to heat

For any industrial scale operation, heat isn’t just a comfort issue – it’s a matter of productivity too. As the ambient temperature rises, worker productivity is affected, particularly in physically demanding jobs, the body diverts energy to cool itself, leaving less for physical and mental tasks. The heat can lead to more frequent and longer breaks, increasing the risk of injury and occupational illness.Because of this, creating a comfortable work environment with moderate temperatures should be a main point to consider for maintaining productivity and ensuring the well-being of workers.

Productivity Loss by the numbers

• According to a 2021 Study from the International Journal of Biometeorology, when the temperature exceeds 85°F, the personnel's physical work capacity can decrease by 30–40%, an amount that increases with higher humidity and poor airflow.
  
  

• In 2023, The Annual Review of Resource Economics reported that for each degree Fahrenheit rise in average daily temperature above 75°F, labor productivity in high-heat sectors drops by approximately 1–2%. In low-intensity indoor work, the drop is smaller, but consistent —around 1% per degree °F.
  
  

• A study from The Lancet Planetary Health from 2021 indicated that when ambient temperatures reached 100-110°F, the effective working time for laborers reduced to 50% or less of their usual performance in safe environments.
  
  

• Productivity loss isn’t only due to exhaustion. Cognitive performance also declines which increases the likelihood of errors, accidents, and injuries happening. The WHO reports that at temperatures above 85°F, reaction times can increase by 12%, and mistake rates by 60%.

All things considered, assuming a typical 8-hour workday in a factory with a reference baseline of 70°F, this information can be condensed into the following chart:

It must be noted that this does not account for other compounding factors we mentioned before, such as increased breaks and rest times, absenteeism due to heat-related illness and decreased morale, added to mistakes done and machine downtimes due to errors in production caused by fatigue.

Facility managers are to take informed decisions about strategies to adopt adequate cooling methods to ensure the safety of their workers. This is where solutions like Evaporative Coolers and Fans can preserve up to 30% of the productivity lost during hot season, helping maintain productivity and profitability of the company and worker safety, comfort and satisfaction.

References:

1. Foster, J., Smallcombe, J. W., Hodder, S., Jay, O., Flouris, A. D., & Havenith, G. (2021). Quantifying the impact of heat on human physical work capacity; part II: the observed interaction of air velocity with temperature, humidity, sweat rate, and clothing is not captured by most heat stress indices. International Journal of Biometeorology, 66, 507–520.
   
   

2. Morris, N. B., Chaseling, G. K., English, T., Gruss, F., Maideen, M. F. B., Capon, A., & Jay, O. (2021). Electric fan use for cooling during hot weather: a biophysical modelling study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(7), e386–e393. Global Heat Health Information Network+1The Lancet+1
   
   

3. RJR Safety. (2024). Combating the Heat in Industrial Environments: 6 Steps to Prevent Heat Stress. Retrieved from https://www.rjrsafety.com/combat-heat-industrial-environments/ rjrsafety.com
   
   

4. Annual Reviews. (2023). The Effects of Temperature on Labor Productivity. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 15.