By

Gaby Grammeno

Contributor

The ILO released its global report Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate after input from a wide range of WHS experts and organisations. Its release coincided with the lead-up to World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April 2024. 

The theme acknowledges the devastating effects changing weather patterns can have on WHS risks. In addition, heat and extreme weather events are increasingly likely to disrupt the regular operation of many businesses. This will be no surprise to the thousands of Australian businesses affected by floods, fires and other severe weather events in recent years.

The predictable impact of climate changes on workers' health and safety is also reflected in the theme for Workers' Memorial Day adopted by the International Trade Union Confederation 2024 – 'climate risks for workers'.

The ILO report

The report aims to present critical evidence related to the impacts of climate change on WHS and bring attention to the global health threat workers are currently facing.

It notes that climate change is already having serious impacts on the safety and health of workers in all regions of the world. Between 2011 and 2020, the average temperature of the Earth's surface was 1.1°C warmer than the average temperature in the late 19th century. This has caused widespread and rapid changes to the atmosphere, land, ocean and ice regions. 

Climate change has resulted in weather and climate extremes on all continents, as evidenced by the increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves, heavy rains, wildfires, droughts and tropical cyclones. 

The report warns of tens of millions of workers worldwide being affected by injuries, illness, and death due to excessive heat alone. Key takeaways for Australian employers are:

  • The main issues likely to affect workers are excessive heat, UV radiation, extreme weather events (such as those resulting in flooding of low-lying areas), workplace air pollution (such as smoke from bushfires aggravating asthma and causing other respiratory issues), vector-borne diseases (including diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as dengue fever) and agrochemicals used to counter specific effects of changing conditions.
  • Strong evidence demonstrates that numerous health conditions in workers have been linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction and mental health conditions.
  • Different sectors are affected in different ways and to varying degrees. Those at greatest risk include outdoor workers, who often work in physically demanding sectors, such as agriculture, construction and transportation. Some working environments may become dangerous especially quickly, for example, those that already generate heat, such as bakeries, foundries and laundries.
  • Many countries have implemented new laws – such as maximum temperature limits and guidelines for adaptive measures at the workplace – to address excessive heat in the working environment specifically.
  • Vulnerable populations of workers, for example, many migrant workers engaged in construction and agriculture in informal settings, are particularly at risk. Firefighters and others in the emergency services will work in increasingly hazardous conditions as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.
  • Climate change threatens ecosystems and the many jobs that depend on them, such as farming, forestry and fishing. Whole regions may be rendered unproductive, and many work environments may be too hot for work. In other areas, natural disasters will destroy critical workplace infrastructure and take lives. This will lead to an increase in climate-induced migration, an upsurge in informal work, and rising unemployment.
  • Mental health is likely to be affected in a range of ways – post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety have increased among first responders and those involved in disaster relief and recovery. Construction workers exposed to hot conditions have experienced more irritability, mood swings, poor concentration, and uncertainty due to extreme weather events, which have threatened business viability and led to planning difficulties and increased job tension. Given that poor mental health is already proving costly for employers, the expected aggravation of such issues is a significant risk for businesses.
  • The changing climate is not the only thing ramping up WHS risks. Increasing urbanisation and proximity of humans and animals have increased the spread of some diseases and led to the emergence of new infectious pathogens or new variants of older types of disease.

Safe Work Australia has developed a set of practical resources on staying safe when working in severe weather and outside, including managing the work health and safety risks from extreme heat, bushfires, sun exposure and air pollution.

What it means for employers

While global and national measures can help mitigate the impact of climate change if suitable policies are adopted, action is also needed at the level of the workplace. Employers can identify opportunities for mitigation by reviewing their risk assessments of relevant hazards and adapting their preventive strategies accordingly.

More frequent severe weather events, heatwaves and air pollution from wildfires and planned burns are among the many environmental factors that could undermine the effectiveness of existing safety systems. To manage the impact of these changes, employers will need to be aware of the potential for adverse consequences and have contingency plans in place.

Read the report

Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, Geneva: International Labour Office, April 2024