Yangon, 29 June 2026 – Climate change is provoking rising global temperatures. To raise awareness on leading heat mitigation strategies for factories, the SMART Factories Programme, under the Multi-stakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar Apparel Industry (MADE in Myanmar) project, conducted a full-day workshop on Heat Reduction in the Apparel Industry, equipping garment factory representatives with practical knowledge to improve workplace thermal comfort and protect workers from heat stress.

The training focused on effective heat reduction strategies, including 

• Heat stress and its impact on worker health, safety and productivity;
• Ventilation improvement and airflow management;
• Effective operation and maintenance of industrial evaporative cooling systems;
• Wet bulb temperature monitoring and humidity management;
• Mold prevention through environmental control and good factory practices (relevant for ensuring evaporative cooling does not introduce new problems);
• Emergency response measures to treat heat-related illnesses; 
• Sustainable heat management strategies that balance worker wellbeing with operational efficiency; and
• Further tips to cool industrial work settings in the tropics, such as night flushing, white and light coloured roofing, planting shade trades and other practical approaches.

Through technical presentations, practical demonstrations, group exercises, and peer-to-peer learning, participants explored practical solutions to create safer, healthier, and more productive working environments.

As climate change continues to increase heat-related risks across Myanmar, MADE in Myanmar remains committed to supporting garment factories in adopting responsible environmental management practices that protect workers while strengthening business performance.