Workers face hazards due to climate change: ILO warns

Over 70 per cent workers across the globe are at a serious risk of ‘cocktail’ of health hazards owing to climate change, according to a recent report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). 

In the latest report on ‘Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate,’ the ILO estimates that over 2.4 billion workers are likely to be exposed to excessive heat, adding to the list of serious risks to the safety and health of workers globally.

Key findings from Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate report:

ILO also underlines that existing occupational safety and health (OSH) protections are ineffective against these risks. The study covered 3.4 billion global workers and found that the proportion of workers impacted by climate change has sharply increased, from 65.5% in 2000. The additional findings reveal: 

• Every year, as many as 22.87 million work-related injuries are reported due to ‘excessive heat’, resulting in 18,970 deaths,
• Over 2.09 million 'disability-adjusted life years' (the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability, or early death) are lost due to these health hazards,
• About 26.2 million global workers suffer from chronic kidney disease due to heat stress at work (recent data as of 2020).

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What are the climate change related health risks faced by workers globally?

ILO report states that climate change, however, affects workers in more ways than just exposure to excessive heat. It creates a 'cocktail of health risks', leading to various dangerours health conditions including Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Respiratory illnesses, Kidney dysfunction and Mental health conditions. The report adds: 

• 1.6 billion workers are exposed to UV radiation, leading to over 18,960 work-related deaths each year from nonmelanoma skin cancer. 
• An equal share of workers are likely exposed to workplace air pollution, causing up to 8,60,000 work-related deaths among frontline and field workers annually. 
• Over 870 million agricultural workers are likely exposed to pesticides poisoning, resulting in more than 300,000 deaths each year. 
• Additionally, there are also 15,000 work-related deaths annually due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

Commenting on the report findings, Manal Azzi, OSH Team Lead at the ILO said, “It’s clear that climate change is already creating significant additional health hazards for workers. It is essential that we heed these warnings. Occupational safety and health considerations must become part of our climate change responses – both policies and actions. Working in safe and healthy environments is recognized as one of the ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work. We must deliver on that commitment in relation to climate change, just as in every other aspect of work.”

These findings emphasise the need for organisations and employers worldwide to update their workers' safety and health policies, especially for frontline and field workers who face a higher risk of climate change-related health hazards (and global risks like COVID-19 pandemic). Additionally, they should implement effective green policies for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and sustainability.