Supplementary information files for "Workplace health and safety under climate stress in Sri Lankan apparel SMEs"

Dengue incidence over the preceding five years reached 10.68% (95% CI; 8.0 to 14.2), reflecting expanding vector habitats. Chi‑square analysis confirmed statistically significant associations between each hazard and adverse health outcomes. The study underscores the need for integrated adaptation measures, improved ventilation, low‑cost cooling, drainage upgrades and systematic vector control, supported by enforceable regulations and targeted financial assistance.

Enhancing climate resilience in SMAMCs is essential for safeguarding worker wellbeing and sustaining Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness, while contributing to global goals on decent work and climate action targets.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Key Highlights</h2><ol><li>Mandate climate-resilient workplace health and safety standards for heat, flooding, indoor air quality and vector risks in SMAMCs, with inspectorate enforcement and auditable compliance logs.</li><li>Provide targeted grants and technical assistance so that resource constrained small and medium scale enterprises can retrofit ventilation, passive cooling and flood proofing without eroding competitiveness.</li><li>Require real time monitoring of temperature, heat index and airborne particulates on production floors, alongside staggered shifts, task rotation and scheduled hydration and rest breaks to reduce dehydration, cognitive fatigue and respiratory illness.</li><li>Integrate factory rules with public vector control and municipal environmental health services to curb dengue in export processing zones, reduce absenteeism and protect continuity of operations, thereby supporting Sustainable Development Goal 8 and Sustainable Development Goal 13.</li><li>Embed worker participation and continuous training through toolbox talks, incident reporting and corrective action tracking to keep controls effective over time.</li><li>Include climate risk assessment in factory licenses and annual audits, with heat and flood action plans, maintenance of drainage and sumps, and verified emergency egress testing.</li><li>Prioritise low-cost engineering controls such as reflective roofing, shading, cross ventilation, local exhaust and raised electrical isolation above flood lines as primary measures, with personal protective equipment used only as residual protection.</li><li>Establish performance indicators for heat illness, dehydration events, respiratory complaints and dengue related absence, and publish aggregated results to drive continuous improvement and benchmarking.<br></li></ol><p dir="ltr">© The Author(s), CC BY 4.0</p>