Periodic Reporting for period 4 - HEAT-SHIELD (Integrated inter-sector framework to increase the thermal resilience of European workers in the context of global warming)
Période du rapport: 2020-07-01 au 2021-12-31
An issue of importance for the European society.
Escalating environmental temperatures is a global societal challenge with worldwide effects, including EU, where human health problems, productivity losses in occupational settings and heat-stress symptoms are experienced by millions of European citizens during the summertime. Our inter-sectoral approach, development of inter-disciplinary analyses and methodologies for improved evaluation and translation of knowledge to industry specific information and guidance relevant for workers have inspired and impacted the international scientific community.''
In alignment with the overall objective we envision:
All Europeans have access to expert support for effective addressing current and future climatic heat scenarios and public as well as private policy makers will take efficient actions to minimize the detrimental effects of elevated environmental temperatures. Hence, it was the HEAT-SHIELD mission to provide information (science-based policy-relevant evidence) for both decision-makers (employers, mangers, health-advisors, local policy-makers etc.) and the individual citizens (workers).
To the achieve the above aims, we have in addition to high impact scientific papers providing policy relevant information, collaborated with national and international stakeholders on utilizing the information to improve public heat-health warning systems relevant for national prevention plans, guidance for workers, employers, and occupational health-and-safety professionals. We have spearheaded that reports from the World Health Organization and guidance documents from the International Labour Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization were updated with new evidence and information adopted by national Labour Ministries in their guidance documents. HEAT-SHIELD information have therefore impacted and supported implementation of effective policies in several members states in EU.
Information targeting the individual worker has led to the production of a series of infographics (see examples and https://www.heat-shield.eu/heat-shield-infographics for complete list) and an "occupational HAP [Heat-Action-Plan]. This knowledge has also been included in guidance material from large international organizations dedicated to occupational and public health.
By leading reports published by the WHO, WHO-Europe and ILO, we have disseminated our policy recommendations and further informed national Ministries of Labour/Health/Environment/ Social Cohesion/Migration, etc. Societal/public outreach via public (international, national and social) media have been prioritized and massive throughout the project. Examples are: Financial Times, Thomson Reuters, The Guardian, El Mundo and EU Horizon magazine. Even after the project’s lifetime the impact has spread and e.g. supported the Pulitzer Center in designing and launching the initiative “Your Work/Environment”. Hence, both in term of scientific and societal outreach, the Heat-Shield project have broadly disseminated and impacted the defined "target audience" [decision-makers, end-users and organizations]