Éowyn shows pressure on workers

It’s well documented^{[ref 1]} that people suffer significant mental and emotional health issues linked to both the direct effects of climate change and climate anxiety from fear of what the future may hold. 

Climate change has been recognised as a health emergency, but up to now the focus has been more on physical than mental health.^{[ref 2]} This imbalance needs to be urgently addressed because the number of cases of psychological trauma arising from disasters can exceed physical injury cases by 40/1.^{[ref 3]}

While it’s too early to measure the mental and emotional health impacts of Storm Éowyn, the physical impacts were immediately evident. One of the most immediate risks was the danger to life from flying debris and falling objects. Tragically, there were reports of motorists being killed by trees falling on their vehicles.

Roads, bridges and railway lines were closed causing significant travel disruption and anxiety. Power outages affected hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, cutting essential services such as electricity and heating. The loss of power also had a knock-on effect on water and telecommunications services, further complicating the recovery efforts.

Health services were put under immense strain during and after the storm. Hospitals and emergency services had to deal with an influx of injuries, including those caused by falls, flying debris and accidents on the roads. The disruption to power and water supplies also posed significant challenges for healthcare facilities, which had to rely on backup generators and emergency water supplies to continue operating. 

Lessons learned

Lessons were learned during Covid-19 on how employers can support health services by taking extra care of workers so they don’t end up in accident and emergency. Many employers adopted this mindset during storm Éowyn by instructing workers who could do so to work from home during the worst of the storm. Many haulage and delivery companies prioritised the safety of their drivers by instructing them to take the day off. This has a further payback of workers feeling valued and their safety being seen as more important than profit. 

Severe storm conditions not only present risks to the public but also put anyone involved in emergency efforts at significant risk. This includes those delivering supplies to those cut-off by the storm, or workers making emergency repairs to critical services, such as power lines. 

Many essential workers are called on to work in storm conditions. These workers may include medical professionals and care workers undertaking home visits, emergency responders (police, fire brigade, ambulance, army), electricity and telecommunications technicians restoring services, and council workers clearing debris or gritting roads. 

It’s important that employers recognise the risks to which these personnel are routinely exposed when responding to weather events. This way, every precaution can be taken to protect their safety, health and wellbeing. 

Indeed, emergency workers are exposed to a whole raft of hazards.

• Physical hazards
  High winds, flooding and debris can pose significant physical dangers. Workers are at risk of injuries from falling objects, slips, trips and falls.
• Exposure to elements
  Prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, cold or heat, which can lead to hypothermia, heat exhaustion or other weather-related illnesses.
• Mental health strain
  The stress and trauma of dealing with emergencies can take a toll on mental health. Workers may experience anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the high-pressure environment and exposure to distressing situations.
• Fatigue
  Long hours and the physical demands of emergency response can lead to severe fatigue, increasing the risk of accidents and reducing overall effectiveness.
• Inadequate rest and nutrition
  During prolonged emergencies, workers may not have adequate opportunities for rest, hydration and nutrition, which can further damage their physical and mental health.
• Exposure to hazardous materials
  Storms can cause the release of hazardous materials, such as chemicals or sewage, which poses additional health risks to emergency workers.

One of the positives to emerge from recent storm events is that it has led to increased co-operation between international electricity companies when restoring power. For example, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in Ireland sent technicians to France following Storm Ciarán in November 2023. This was reciprocated when French technicians travelled to Ireland to assist ESB Networks in repairing power outages after storm Darragh in December 2024 and again following storm Éowyn. Overseas working and language and cultural differences, of course, must be factored into the employer’s risk assessment process. 

Responsibilities to comply with health and safety legislation continue to apply when responding to emergency repairs, as evidenced from the following prosecution summaries relating to recent cases from the utilities sector in the UK (see below). 

Prosecutions

• Health and Safety Executive | Openreach fined following death of engineer
• Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland | Council and construction company fined following death of 24-year-old worker during Storm-Ali

References

1. Lawrance E, Thompson R, Fontana G, Jennings N. The impact of climate change on mental health and emotional wellbeing: current evidence and implications for policy and practice. Grantham Institute Briefing Paper No. 36 (May 2021)
2. Hoffmann MS, Oliveira LM, Lobato MIR, Belmonte-de-Abreu P, Hoffmann MS, Oliveira LM, et al. Heat stroke during long-term clozapine treatment: should we be concerned about hot weather? (March 2016).
3. Hayes K, Blashki G, Wiseman J, Burke S, Reifels L. Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. (June 2018).