Scaling up efforts on climate change and workplace health and safety

Climate change is transforming work globally. Its effects on workers extend beyond direct environmental impacts, often worsening existing occupational hazards and having an impact on broader societal issues. 

Until relatively recently, the impact of climate change on workers had been somewhat overlooked in research circles. But interest has grown significantly in the last 15 years. Only last year, the International Labour Organization published a comprehensive review of the risks climate change poses to workers. It referenced hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Reflecting this ongoing interest, this blogpost accompanies the release of two new reports by three organisations working at the forefront of this issue. 

Different perspectives, complementary findings

The new Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre commissioned RAND Europe, a not-for-profit policy research organisation, to conduct a scoping review. This review focused on high-risk and climate-vulnerable sectors, examining a large volume of literature. Using AI and expert analysis, the team identified risks, evidence gaps and ways in which the Centre can make an impact in this space. 

At the same time, IOSH has published a white paper on the relationship between climate change and safe and healthy work. The paper highlights policy gaps, outlines safety and health principles applicable to climate-related risks and showcases examples of good practice that are emerging globally. 

The two publications explore the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health (OSH) from different perspectives, yet their findings are complementary. 

What we know

The major risks of climate change to workers are well understood. As evidence in the Global Safety Evidence Centre report shows, extreme weather disrupts workplaces and infrastructure, endangering workers’ physical safety. Rising temperatures pose considerable health risks and force changes in work patterns. Outdoor workers are especially vulnerable, facing greater exposure to these and additional risks, such as air pollution and diseases spread by insects and animals.  

Case studies show how – encouragingly – localised responses are emerging. The IOSH white paper highlights changes to working patterns among sugar cane workers in Mesoamerica and fatigue management checks among oil and gas workers in Oman. Additionally, as reported by RAND Europe, some regions have long-established working practices to cope with heat.   

Strengthening the case

Stronger evidence is needed, however, on which practices and interventions most effectively mitigate the risks. Existing evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions is still patchy, making it difficult to implement them at scale. This is due in part to the uneven distribution of robust monitoring and evaluation systems. Low- and middle-income countries, for example, are likely to face the greatest impacts but produce far less data and research than Europe and North America.  

The use of established and widely applicable principles of good OSH can help guide responses across contexts and different levels of safety maturity. This is especially so, given the scale, uncertainty and diversity of climate change effects. From artisanal farmers to mega-project construction workers, good practices can be guided by common principles, such as commitment, accountability and collaboration. As the IOSH white paper suggests, “the principles of good OSH are not altered by climate change – if anything, they are only made more important by it.”

Climate change presents serious challenges to safety and health, but the resilience of workers and businesses can help address them. All actors across the OSH community have a role to play.  

• Strong policy responses are crucial to drive action and set clear standards at the business level. 
• Further research is essential for developing not only evidence, but usable evidence-based guidance. 
• Building monitoring and evaluation capability globally should be a priority. OSH professionals will need the ability to collect and analyse local data and adapt general guidance to specific contexts. 
• Collaboration via international networks, such as the Global Safety Evidence Centre, can connect researchers, professional bodies and businesses to facilitate mutual learning. 

These two reports highlight the growing interest in the relationship between climate change and work. Crucially, they highlight the urgent effort still required to transform pockets of good practice into robust interventions that can support workers who need it the most.