Last week, the International Labour Organization (ILO) had the honour of hosting Dr. Andreas Flouris, Director of the FAME Laboratory and Associate Professor at the University of Thessaly, for an engaging presentation of his latest research on the effects of heat stress on workers' health. The discussion, held on June 1st at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, brought together ILO technical colleagues from several departments, in order to learn about the latest research in this area and explore potential collaborations in addressing this timely issue.

Dr. Flouris, known for his extensive research on heat stress and its impact on workers' well-being, shed light on the extent of the relationship between working in hot environments and the resulting fatigue and cognitive impairment, which can significantly increase the risk of health complications.

One of the highlights of Dr. Flouris' talk was the unveiling of a novel model to estimate the impact of hot temperatures on labour productivity. This model utilized field data to estimate the influence of heat and cold on labor productivity, providing valuable insights into the potential consequences of climate change. He showed how the model could be used to predict the global welfare implications of climate change, by estimating the labour productivity change between the years 2000 and 2040.

Dr. Flouris, who also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and is the associate editor of Temperature, made himself available for side meetings during his visit to Geneva on June 1st and 2nd. These additional interactions allowed ILO staff to delve deeper into the subject matter and explore avenues for joint endeavours in tackling the challenges posed by climate change. The insights shared by Dr. Flouris have provided valuable knowledge and perspectives that will inform the organization's ongoing work in this critical area.