(FWA 2025/08/19)

The Research Center for Environmental Changes at Academia Sinica, in partnership with Harvard University, has conducted a study examining outdoor workers’ exposure to heat stress and its impact on productivity. The results reveal that working in high temperatures can slash laborers’ average productivity by 29% to 41.3%. This decline not only drives up construction costs but also increases the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, with potential long-term effects on workers’ health and finances.

The research team monitored 101 construction workers in Taipei area, using sensors to record temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed. These measurements were then converted into heat stress indices. The findings show that labor-intensive industries face a particularly heavy economic burden from heat stress, with northern Taiwan experiencing even harsher conditions than the south.

Interestingly, some seemingly less strenuous tasks—such as masonry or welding—showed even higher productivity losses. Researchers believe this may be because these tasks rely mainly on hand movements, leading workers to underestimate fatigue and skip breaks, ultimately resulting in exhaustion.

According to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over the past five years, special labor inspections on outdoor heat hazards have resulted in more than 3,000 cases per year requiring corrective action, accounting for 33% of all cases. From 2020 to 2024, there were 28 cases of occupational disease compensation tied to heat exposure: 24 for injuries, one for disability, and three for fatalities. These numbers highlight the serious dangers of working under extreme heat.

最新研究揭示：高溫恐嚴重削弱生產力

中央研究院環境變遷研究中心與哈佛大學公共衛生學院共同合作，針對戶外勞工的環境熱壓力進行實測並推估生產力損失。結果顯示，勞工在高溫環境下工作時，平均生產力恐下降 29% 至 41.3%。這不僅導致建設成本增加，也使勞工面臨中暑等熱傷害風險，進一步衝擊個人經濟。

研究團隊選取大台北地區 101 名營建工人，利用感測器紀錄氣溫、相對濕度、太陽輻射與風速，再換算為熱壓力指標。結果顯示，勞動密集產業因熱壓力而承受龐大經濟負擔，且北部的悶熱程度甚至高於南部。

值得注意的是，部分看似較輕的作業，例如泥作或焊接，反而呈現更高比例的生產力損失。研究推測，這類作業主要依靠手部操作，勞工往往忽視休息，導致體力透支。

根據職安署統計，近五年針對戶外高溫熱危害的專案勞動檢查中，每年約有3千多件被要求改善，比例為33%。2020 年至 2024 年間，因熱危害導致的職業病給付累計 28 件，其中包含 24 件傷病給付、1 件失能給付及 3 件死亡給付，凸顯高溫作業風險不可輕忽。