Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate / ILO 2024

ID 21771 | 26.04.2024 

Climate change is already having serious impacts on the safety and health of workers in all regions of the world. Workers are among those most exposed to climate change hazards yet frequently have no choice but to continue working, even if conditions are dangerous. Global occupational safety and health (OSH) protections have struggled to keep up with the evolving risks from climate change, resulting in worker mortality and morbidity.

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.

The report addresses the following key issues:

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

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

List of abbreviations

Executive summary

Introduction

Climate change and worker safety and health

The ILO and climate change

1. Excessive heat
Impact on worker safety and health
Examples of responses to the risk

2. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Impact on worker safety and health
Examples of responses to the risk

3. Extreme weather events
Impact on worker safety and health
Examples of responses to the risk

4. Workplace air pollution
Impact on worker safety and health
Examples of responses to the risk

5. Vector-borne diseases
Impact on worker safety and health
Examples of responses to the risk

6. Agrochemicals
Impact on worker safety and health
Examples of responses to the risk

Conclusions

References

Annex: A selection of tools and resources relevant for climate change

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Fonte: ILO