Climate change causes health risks for 70% of workers, says UN

Around 70% of workers in the world are exposed to health risks related to climate changes according to a report released on Monday (22) by the ILO (International Labor Organization), a UN agency (United Nations).

O document states that climate change is impacting the safety and health of workers in all regions of the world. The ILO estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers will be exposed to excessive heat at some point in their work, according to 2020 data, the most recent available.

Additionally, the report also estimates that 18,970 lives and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years are lost each year due to the 22.87 million occupational injuries attributed to excessive heat. Furthermore, according to the document, around 26.2 million people worldwide live with chronic kidney disease associated with heat stress in the workplace.

Risks go beyond excessive heat

The report shows that other global worker health problems, in addition to conditions associated with excessive heat, may be related to climate change. This is the case with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, kidney dysfunction and mental health problems.

According to the document, the impact of climate change includes:

• 1.6 billion workers exposed to UV radiation, with more than 18,960 annual deaths from work-related non-melanoma skin cancer;
• 1.6 billion people exposed to workplace air pollution, resulting in up to 860,000 outdoor work-related deaths annually;
• More than 870 million agricultural workers likely exposed to pesticides, with more than 300,000 annual deaths attributed to pesticide poisoning;
• 15,000 work-related deaths per year due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

“It is clear that climate change is already creating significant additional risks to the health of workers,” said Manal Azzi, head of the OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) team at the ILO, in statement.

“It is essential that we heed these warnings. Occupational health and safety considerations must become part of our responses to climate change – in both policy and action. Working in safe and healthy environments is recognized as one of the ILO's fundamental principles and rights. We must fulfill this commitment in relation to climate change, as in all other aspects of our work”, he adds.

Report analyzes countries' current responses to climate issues in the workplace

The report also explored how countries are responding to climate change, by adding or reviewing new legislation, regulations and guidance to mitigate the problem in workplaces.

As mentioned in the document, Brazilian legislation states that work must be interrupted in cases where the temperature rises above 29.4 ºC, for low-intensity work; above 27.3 ºC, for moderate intensity work; and 24.7 ºC, for very high intensity work.