“Climate Change and Worker Safety: The Urgent Need for Action”

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a new report highlighting the alarming impact of climate change on occupational safety and health (OSH) worldwide. The report, titled “Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate,” reveals that more than 70% of the global workforce, totaling over 2.4 billion workers, are at risk of being exposed to climate-change-related health hazards.

According to the report, the number of workers exposed to excessive heat at work has increased significantly since 2000, with an estimated 18,970 lives lost annually due to occupational injuries related to heat stress. Additionally, 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years are lost each year due to these injuries, with 26.2 million people suffering from chronic kidney disease linked to workplace heat stress.

The impact of climate change on workers extends beyond heat stress, leading to a range of health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction, and mental health issues. The report highlights that 1.6 billion workers are exposed to UV radiation, resulting in over 18,960 work-related deaths annually from nonmelanoma skin cancer. Furthermore, 1.6 billion workers are likely to be exposed to workplace air pollution, leading to up to 860,000 work-related deaths among outdoor workers each year.

In the agricultural sector, over 870 million workers are at risk of exposure to pesticides, with more than 300,000 deaths attributed to pesticide poisoning annually. Additionally, 15,000 work-related deaths occur each year due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

Manal Azzi, OSH Team Lead at the ILO, emphasized the urgent need to address these health hazards for workers. She stated, “It’s clear that climate change is already creating significant additional health hazards for workers. Occupational safety and health considerations must be integrated into our climate change responses to ensure safe and healthy working environments for all.”

The report also examines current country responses to these challenges, including the revision or creation of legislation, regulations, and guidance to improve climate mitigation strategies in workplaces, such as energy efficiency measures. The ILO calls for a collective effort to prioritize OSH in the face of climate change and uphold the fundamental principle of ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for all workers.