From fields to factories: A warning on climate changes toll on global labour health

Agriculture, forestry and construction at risk of climate change related health hazards

Billions of workers are exposed to hazards that evolve as the climate changes. Existing OHS (Occupational health & safety) protections are struggling to keep up with the changing risks, according to an International Labour Organization (ILO) report. The report emphasises the need for enhanced occupational health and safety measures to mitigate new risk levels, particularly for outdoor workers like those in construction, agriculture, and forestry.

Workers across all different sectors from farms to factories are exposed to these hazards but outdoor workers exposed to heat such as agricultural and construction are particularly at risk:

“Comparing exposure estimates for 2020 with those for 2000, there was a 34.7 per cent increase in the absolute number of workers exposed to excessive heat. This increase can be attributed to both rising temperatures and a growing labour force."

ILO highlights climate change health risks

Strong evidence has demonstrated that health conditions in workers have been linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction and mental health conditions, among many others.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently highlighted the significant health risks faced by workers due to climate change-related hazards.

• Excessive Heat Exposure: Over 70% of the global workforce, approximately 2.4 billion workers, are at risk of exposure to extreme heat during work. This exposure leads to around 18,970 deaths and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years annually.
• Chronic Kidney Disease: Around 26.2 million people worldwide suffer from chronic kidney disease due to workplace heat stress.
• Productivity and Health Impact: A meta-analysis covering 30 countries and over 447 million workers revealed that prolonged exposure to excessive heat affects 35% of workers physiologically and results in productivity losses for 30%.
• Agricultural Sector Vulnerability: Agricultural workers face significant risks, being 35 times more likely to die from heat-related causes than workers in other sectors.
• UV Radiation Exposure: Approximately 1.6 billion workers face exposure to UV radiation, leading to around 18,960 work-related deaths annually from skin cancer.
• Occupational Pesticide Exposure: More than 870 million agricultural workers are exposed to pesticides, resulting in over 300,000 deaths annually. Exposure can lead to various health issues, including poisoning, cancer, neurotoxicity, reproductive disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.

Looking to the future and ways forward

Many countries have made new laws to deal with extreme heat at work, setting limits on temperatures and suggesting ways for workplaces to adapt. For other effects of climate change, worker protections are often part of existing health and safety or environmental rules. These laws differ a lot from country to country but include:

• Medical surveillance
• Occupational disease lists
• Occupational exposure limits (OELs)
• Training and information
• Risk assessment.
• Workplace preventive measures.

As climate change hazards evolve and intensify, it will be necessary to re-evaluate existing legislation or create new regulations and guidance. Some worker populations may need extra protections due to a hotter climate.

Working in the heat: online learning

Existing myosh members can make use of the ready-made course Working in Extreme Heat to easily provide introductory training to staff. Get access to this and wide variety of other courses through the course library.

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Sources

Warning over ‘cocktail’ of serious health hazards for workers by AIHS, 23rd April, 2024.

Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate by ILO, 2024.

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