heatwave risk prevention amid regional fragmentation and trade union action

Journal title ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE
Author/s Elisa Errico, Daniele Di Nunzio
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/3
Language Italian Pages 14 P. 67-80 File size 271 KB
DOI 10.3280/ES2025-003005
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Heatwaves are an increasingly significant risk for occupational health and safety, exacerbated by the regional fragmentation of prevention measures. This article analyses how institutions, trade unions, prevention actors and scientific community have developed a multilevel system to address heat stress in Italy, highlighting territorial differences, good practices and structural weaknesses. Drawing on document analysis and two case studies in Apulian agriculture and logistics warehousing, the findings show the crucial role of social dialogue in translating scientific evidence into Operational Protocols, organisational adjustments and economic protections. Emerging prevention models remain heterogeneous, largely focused on outdoor sectors and often shaped by emergencydriven approaches. The article suggests strengthening institutional coordination, trade union participation and the integration of climaterelated prevention within labour policies.

Keywords: Heatwaves, Occupational Health and Safety, Climate Change, Trade Union, Social Dialogue

Jel codes: R1, J51, A14

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Elisa Errico, Daniele Di Nunzio, Ondate di calore e azione sindacale: verso un modello multi-livello di prevenzione dei rischi sul lavoro in "ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE " 3/2025, pp 67-80, DOI: 10.3280/ES2025-003005