Heat Stress and Occupational Health in a Changing Climate: A Brief Report on Brick Kiln Workers in Uganda

Abstract

This brief report addresses the critical occupational health challenge of heat stress among outdoor workers in Africa, exacerbated by climate change. Focusing on Uganda's brick kiln industry, it investigates the physiological impacts and health perceptions of workers within this heat-intensive informal sector. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 across multiple kiln sites in Central Uganda. Data were collected through structured interviews assessing self-reported health symptoms and environmental heat exposure, complemented by direct wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) measurements. Findings indicate that over 87% of workers experienced heat-related illnesses, including excessive fatigue, dizziness, and muscle cramps, during the 2023-2024 working year. WBGT readings consistently exceeded internationally recommended exposure limits for heavy labour. Crucially, despite high morbidity, awareness of heatstroke as a medical emergency was low, and adaptive practices were largely informal and inadequate. The study underscores that climate change constitutes a direct occupational health hazard, disproportionately impacting vulnerable informal labour forces. It argues for the urgent integration of evidence-based heat health protection such as revised work-rest schedules and targeted health education into national occupational safety and climate adaptation policies. This report provides essential evidence for policymakers to develop interventions that safeguard this critical workforce on a warming continent