Nationwide heat-related workability loss and adaptation measures: development of a geospatial tool to support work management in heat conditions

Heat reduces labor productivity, leading employers to adjust work schedules. However, no international climate service exists for managing heat-related productivity losses. This study estimated summer workability loss (WL) across Italy for various 8-h work shifts and integrated the data into a WebGIS tool providing municipal-level insights. Global ERA5 climatological data (2009-2017) was downscaled to a 2.5 km grid over Italy and the workability equation calculated WL for different shifts (5am-1pm, 6am-2pm, 7am-3pm, 8am-4pm, 9am-5pm). The data was integrated into the Google Earth Engine (GEE) App for improved visualization. Compared to WL for workers performing high metabolic rate tasks in the sun, WL decreased significantly (p<0.01) for moderate metabolic rate tasks in the sun (60%) and for high metabolic rate tasks in the shade (over 90%). Starting shifts earlier than 9am reduced WL: by 4% starting 1 h earlier and nearly halving WL starting 4 h earlier (5am). The GEE "Worklimate 2.0 App" (https://ee-worklimate.projects.earthengine.app/view/workabilityloss) visualizes these findings. This study shows that rescheduling work hours and providing shade can significantly reduce WL in Italy, though additional heat adaptation strategies are needed to fully mitigate WL. The GEE App is the first international climate service for analyzing heat-related WL across working shifts.