Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate

This report presents critical evidence related to the impacts of climate change on OSH, to bring attention to the global health threat workers are currently facing. A scoping exercise was conducted to identify the most recent trends and priorities for climate change and worker safety and health. Based on the available evidence, the report addresses the following key issues:

• Excessive heat
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Extreme weather events
• Workplace air pollution
• Vector-borne diseases
• Agrochemicals

Whilst some of these risks may be considered as primary consequences of climate change (for example excessive heat), others can be regarded as secondary impacts (for example vector-borne diseases and wildfires). These topics were selected due to the severity and magnitude of their effects on worker populations. It is acknowledged that other climate change or environmental impacts do exist, such as different communicable diseases and chemical hazards, however it was not possible to cover all topics in this report. Mental health is touched on in a dedicated box towards the end of the report. The report also highlights the additional OSH risks that may result from certain “greening” practices, which bring with them the need for enhanced risk assessment for workers.
 

For each climate change-related risk, the report aims to provide the most recent and pertinent evidence regarding worker exposures and the main safety and health effects that result. Each chapter also details existing responses to the risk. At the national level these responses may include policies and strategies, laws, collective agreements, technical guidelines, training programmes, advisory initiatives and awareness-raising campaigns. At the workplace level, ILO guidance and effective actions identified in the research will be outlined. It is hoped that the findings here will stimulate upcoming discussions and provide a sound evidence base for future work in the field.