Many physically demanding occupations in both developed and developing economies involve exposure to extreme
thermal environments that can affect work capacity and ultimately health. Thermal extremes may be present in either an
outdoor or an indoor work environment, and can be due to a combination of the natural or artificial ambient environment, the
rate of metabolic heat generation from physical work, processes specific to the workplace (e.g., steel manufacturing), or through
the requirement for protective clothing impairing heat dissipation. Together, thermal exposure can elicit acute impairment of
work capacity and also chronic effects on health, greatly contributing to worker health risk and reduced productivity. Surprisingly,
in most occupations even in developed economies, there are rarely any standards regarding enforced heat or cold safety
for workers. Furthermore, specific physical employment standards or accommodations for thermal stressors are rare, with
workers commonly tested under near-perfect conditions. This review surveys the major occupational impact of thermal extremes
and existing employment standards, proposing guidelines for improvement and areas for future research