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AAFA Publishes Heat Stress Guide and Toolkit for Apparel Supply Chains
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has released two resources to help brands and manufacturers protect workers from extreme heat: the AAFA Guide to Protecting Workers from Heat Stress (April 17, 2026) and a companion Heat Stress Toolkit. Both are relevant to CAF members that source from regions where rising temperatures affect production, compliance, and lead times.
Commissioned by AAFA, this toolkit was designed through a collaborative process. The AAFA Heat Guidance Working Group, consisting of brands, manufacturers, and worker-advocacy groups, developed the Brand Implementation Guidelines and Supplier Survey. Meanwhile, the Fashion Producer Collective developed the manufacturer-specific guidelines and workbook, with support from the Heat Guidance Working Group.
What the resources cover:
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The Guide sets out practical recommendations for factories and buyers across apparel, footwear, and travel goods supply chains.
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The Toolkit has five parts. It converts the Guide into step-by-step implementation materials.
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Both were developed with input from brands, manufacturers, material suppliers, academia, and worker-advocacy groups.
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AAFA will review the Guide regularly and update it annually.
Key recommendations in the Guide:
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Set maximum workplace heat thresholds.
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Introduce structural mitigation measures, such as cooling and ventilation improvements.
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Adjust workloads and water and bathroom breaks based on heat conditions.
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Establish heat stress education and medical monitoring programs.
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Hold regular buyer-supplier discussions, and share responsibility for the effects of extreme heat days.
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Support responsible purchasing practices, including reasonable lead times and pricing that account for worker protection measures.
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Improve adherence to regional and national labour and public health codes on workplace temperature, ventilation, humidity, and room capacity.
The Guide states that heat mitigation measures, such as adjusted schedules and extended rest periods, can affect production timelines and operating costs, and it calls on buyers and suppliers to plan for this together. Members can use the Guide as a reference when engaging suppliers on heat risk. Its Practical Action Checklist lists separate actions for manufacturers, brands and buyers, and shared actions.
LINK
AAFA Guide to Protecting Workers from Heat Stress, Version 2.0, April 2026 (PDF)
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