The Heat Tax: Why Cooling the Factory Floor Is a Human Capital Investment
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The Heat Tax: Why Cooling the Factory Floor Is a Human Capital Investment

02 October 2026 / Essay

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Extreme heat is becoming an operational and workforce risk for manufacturers as hotter summers exacerbate the thermal load generated by industrial processes, uncooled facilities, and physically demanding work. Recent evidence links hotter working conditions with poorer worker outcomes, making heat management a human capital investment as well as a safety obligation

Extreme heat is becoming an operational and workforce risk for manufacturers as hotter summers exacerbate the thermal load generated by industrial processes, uncooled facilities, and physically demanding work. Recent evidence links hotter working conditions with poorer worker outcomes, making heat management a human capital investment as well as a safety obligation

Authors

Jim Carling

Jim Carling Jim Carling

Senior Fellow, Human Capital
The Conference Board

Read Bio

Robin Erickson, Ph.D.

Robin Erickson, Ph.D. Robin Erickson, PhD

Head of Human Capital Research
The Conference Board

Read Bio

Marty Belle

Marty Belle Marty Belle

Senior Fellow and Manufacturing Forum Leader, Huma…
The Conference Board

Read Bio

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