Practical actions: Outdoor and hot workplaces (1 of 2)

What to do: Rest points where workers already are, with shade or cooling, seating, drinking water, rehydration salts, a first-aid kit and a way to reach a clinic.

Who acts: City and local governments, Employers and businesses, Community and civil society groups

Running and upkeep: Water, ice and salts every day; cleaning; power for fans; someone on site; repairs before each season.

What could stop it: A station nobody can leave work to use, or one that closes when the day is hottest.

Works only if: Employers let workers use it without losing pay; It is open when people work; Someone refills and repairs it every day.

Evidence: source 1 below.

What to do: Route official alerts through trusted worker messengers, voice notes and picture boards at stalls and labour chowks, with one clear action in each message and a way to report back.

Who acts: Weather and climate services, Worker organisations and unions, Community and civil society groups

Running and upkeep: A messenger’s time every alert day, printed boards, and someone who answers when workers report a problem.

What could stop it: Alerts that tell people to stay indoors when they cannot, and no one listening when they report back.

Works only if: Each message comes with an action people can take; A named messenger passes it on; Workers can report missing water, shade or help, and someone responds.

Evidence: source 2 below.

What to do: Free or cheap drinking water close to where people live and work: piped connections, community water points or refill stations.

Who acts: Water authorities, City and local governments, Community and civil society groups

Running and upkeep: Upkeep of pipes and points, water quality testing, and a fair way to bill or share costs.

What could stop it: Rules that tie a connection to land title, so people in informal settlements cannot get one.

Works only if: Connections do not require land title; Water is tested and safe; Someone local can fix a broken point fast.

Evidence: source 3 below.

What to do: Train and pay local people to install, run and repair cool roofs, water points, shade and green spaces.

Who acts: City and local governments, Community and civil society groups, Development banks, donors and climate funds

Running and upkeep: Wages and training, built into the running budget from the start.

What could stop it: Projects that train people once and then stop paying them.

Works only if: Upkeep jobs are paid for every year; Training leads to real work.

Evidence: source 4 below.

What to do: A light shelter with a bench and shade that can be moved between work sites or fixed to a wall.

Who acts: Employers and businesses, City and local governments, Community and civil society groups

Running and upkeep: Moving and fixing it, and repairs; someone needs to own it.

What could stop it: Nobody owning it once the pilot ends.

Works only if: Workers test the design first; Someone owns, moves and repairs it.

Evidence: source 5 below.