The Impact of Workplace Heat and Cold on Work Time Loss

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the impact of workplace heat and cold on work time loss. METHODS: Field experiments in different industrial sectors were conducted in multiple countries across all seasons between 2016 and 2024. Hundreds of workers were video recorded, and their full shifts (n = 603) were analyzed on a second-by-second basis (n = 16,065,501 seconds). Environmental data were recorded using portable weather stations. The Workplace Environmental Labor Loss (WELL) functions were developed to describe work time loss due to workplace temperature. RESULTS: The WELL functions revealed a U-shaped relationship whereby the least work time loss is observed at 18°C (64°F) and increases for every degree above or below this optimal temperature. CONCLUSIONS: The WELL functions quantify the impact of workplace temperature on work time loss, extending to temperatures previously believed to be unaffected.