World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate

Climate change is happening faster than predicted, and its effects are increasingly impacting our day-to-day lives. From frequent storms to unprecedented heatwaves, we are all becoming more aware of the risks that global warming can cause.

While unpredictable weather events are well-documented and understood, one element of climate change that needs to be spoken about is its detrimental impact on the global workforce, which is what World Day for Safety and Health at Work is all about!

What is Safety and Health at Work Day?

Safety and Health at Work Day, or World Day for Safety and Health at Work, is an annual event celebrated on April 28th. It’s a day to promote safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces by raising awareness about occupational health and safety issues.

The initiative was launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2003, and each year focuses on a different theme to help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries that happen at work.

What is the theme of World Day for Safety and Health at Work Day 2024?

The theme and focus point of 2024’s event is the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health. The ILO is launching a data-rich report on the topic and hosting global events with experts and guest speakers from governments and businesses to discuss how to protect workers and respond to this global challenge.

The impact of climate change on the world of work

There are certain environments and industries where workers are particularly at risk; these include:

• Outdoor workers in physically demanding sectors, such as agriculture, construction and transportation.
• Indoor workers in hot and poorly ventilated environments.
• Workers in emergency services, the health care sector and other public services.
• Pregnant women, older adults and persons with disabilities.
• Workers in the informal economy, migrants and those in micro- and small-sized enterprises.

Key issues impacting workers’ health and safety

Climate change poses several key issues that impact workers’ health and safety, including:

Excessive heat

Rising global temperatures lead to more frequent and intense heatwaves, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and dehydration for outdoor workers.

Who’s at risk?

Agriculture, construction and outdoor manufacturing due to prolonged exposure to sun and physical exertion.

Solar UV radiations

Thinning of the ozone layer is impacting the quantity of solar UV radiation reaching Earth, which can cause sunburn, eye damage, weakened immunity and various skin cancers in workers.

Who’s at risk?

Agriculture, construction and outdoor manufacturing due to prolonged exposure to sun and physical exertion.

Extreme weather events

More frequent and severe extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods and wildfires pose direct risks to workers’ safety, causing injuries, displacement and psychological distress.

Who’s at risk?

Emergency workers, workers involved in clean-up, agriculture workers and fishing workers.

Workplace air pollution

Climate change exacerbates air pollution, which can have health impacts including cancer (lung), stroke, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and eye irritation.

Who’s at risk?

All workers, particularly outdoor workers, transport workers and firefighters.

Vector-borne diseases

Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can expand the geographic range of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, lyme disease, dengue, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and African trypanosomiasis.

Who’s at risk?

Outdoor workers.

Agrochemicals

Pesticide use can be impacted by climate change and cause health problems such as poisoning, cancer, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, reproductive disorders, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, endocrine disruption and immune suppression.

Who’s at risk?

Agriculture, forestry, chemical industries, pesticide sales, greenspace and vector control.

Mental health challenges

In addition to the physical health concerns mentioned, many workers face heightened susceptibility to mental health challenges induced by climate change.

Specific occupations like those in disaster relief and recovery, construction, agriculture and healthcare have been found to be particularly at risk for PTSD, depression and anxiety. Additionally, certain climate change impacts, such as excessive heat, can lead to sleeping disorders, behavioural changes and decreased concentration, impacting work safety and productivity and exacerbating mental health concerns.