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In response to rising temperatures and the risk of exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the workplace, the Spanish National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (INSST) and the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) are collaborating on a new research project.
Presented in May at a conference on heat stress, this project aims to develop a tool to predict the WBGT index (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) based on meteorological data.
Currently widely used to measure environmental conditions in the field at a given moment (temperature, humidity, radiation, wind), the WBGT index remains limited for outdoor work activities where conditions change rapidly. This new tool would provide forecasts of environmental conditions to anticipate heat stress situations and prevent associated occupational risks (heatstroke, dehydration, etc.).
“Extreme heat waves are no longer limited to a few days a year, and intense sun exposure is no longer an isolated phenomenon. It is therefore necessary to shift from a reactive approach to preventive management that anticipates and adapts to these risks. And this requires a science-based approach, technical rigor, and institutional and social dialogue. ” Aitana Garí Pérez, Director of the INSST.
This initiative is part of the Spanish Strategy for Occupational Safety and Health 2023–2027, which recognizes the need to improve protection against increasingly extreme weather conditions and to promote specific tools that facilitate preventive management.
Furthermore, the INSST notes that workplace accidents increase by 17.4% during heat waves. Between May 16 and September 30, 2025, 3,832 deaths linked to high temperatures were recorded in the general Spanish population, an increase of 87.6% compared to 2024 (estimates from the Spanish Daily Mortality Surveillance System – MoMo).
See also:
- “Italy: A Digital Platform to Manage Work in Extreme Heat,” article from July 17, 2025
- “Working in Extreme Heat and Heat Waves: What Are the International Laws and Preventive Measures?” (EUROGIP, 2023)
