As global temperatures rise, the impacts of climate change are becoming more visible, especially for those who work under the sun every day. “Silent Sufferers: Outdoor Workers and the Heat Crisis” is a documentary that brings attention to the often-unseen struggles of people working in outdoor environments—like road workers, university guards, construction laborers, and street vendors—who face the brunt of increasing heatwaves. Through their voices and expert insights, we explore how rising temperatures affect their health, livelihoods, and everyday lives. It’s a story of resilience, hardship, and the urgent need for climate action to protect those most at risk.

Documentary Steps and Structure:

• Personal Stories of Outdoor Workers
  The documentary will feature interviews with individuals working in physically demanding, outdoor jobs. They will share personal stories about how rising temperatures are affecting their health, productivity, and overall well-being.
• Health Risks Due to Heat Exposure
  It will explore the medical risks these workers face, including heat exhaustion, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses. Interviews with healthcare professionals can provide expert insights on the long-term effects of constant heat exposure.
• Adapting to the Heat
  Highlight the ways these workers try to cope with rising temperatures—like taking frequent breaks, staying hydrated, or working in shifts—and the limitations of these coping mechanisms in extreme conditions.
• Impact on Daily Life and Productivity
  Explore how extreme temperatures reduce workers’ efficiency and productivity, forcing them to take more breaks or limiting their working hours, which directly impacts their income.
• Climate Change and Local Heat Trends
  Incorporate data and expert commentary on how climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, making outdoor work more dangerous. Compare current temperature trends with those of previous decades to show the rapid rise in heat levels.
• Potential Solutions
  Showcase potential solutions or adaptations to help outdoor workers cope with extreme heat. This could include interviews with employers or policymakers on regulations like providing protective gear, installing shaded areas, or adjusting work hours to cooler parts of the day.
• Call to Action
  End with a powerful message emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change and taking immediate measures to protect outdoor workers from the increasing risks posed by rising temperatures.

TOR’s

Open to all students enrolled in the department.

• Individual or group participation.
• The theme of the competition is “Silent Sufferers: Outdoor Workers and the Heat Crisis”.
• A 4 to 5-minute video documentary.
• High-quality audio and video recording, edited and suitable for screening.
• A final cut that includes interviews, B-roll footage, and any additional information like data visualizations or voiceovers.
• The documentary should be emailed to info@climateoptics.org.