A new report sounding the alarm on the urgent need for action to protect workers from the dangers of climate change is now out from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

IOSH wants firms to build climate-related risk management into internal policies and systems

The white paper highlights a growing “crisis” at work with people being exposed to a range of climate-related risks to their health and safety, including extreme temperatures, poor air quality, increases in vector-borne and infectious diseases, and storm surges.

The issue is particularly severe for certain sectors and groups of workers, including agricultural workers, emergency responders and construction workers.

IOSH wants governments to develop and enforce climate-related health and safety regulations as part of existing labour and occupational safety and health (OSH) laws. This, it says, should particularly focus on vulnerable workers.

It’s also calling on businesses to ensure they have climate-related risk management rooted into their internal policies and systems.

Ruth Wilkinson, head of policy and public affairs at IOSH, said: “We see and hear about the real-life stories about the impact that climate change is having on our world and in our communities. But what about the impacts of climate change on the health and safety of people at work?

“Whether these are emergency responders responding to climate events, or to workers undertaking their work indoors or outdoors where they are at climate-related risks. This is a growing crisis that will only get worse if collective action isn’t taken.”

As well as calls to governments and businesses, IOSH has also highlighted the important role that health and safety professionals have to play. This includes through assisting businesses with their approach to managing the risks.

The launch of IOSH’s white paper coincides with the publication of a report from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Safety Evidence Centre, which reviews the evidence on how climate change heightens risks for workers, including sector-specific impacts such as those on construction, manufacturing, and mining and quarrying.

Nancy Hey, director of evidence and insight at the foundation, said: “As the effects of climate change continue, the impact on work is also changing. This affects all of us, but some sectors and geographies stand to be more affected than others.

“IOSH’s paper highlights what can be done to manage these risks. Our own report has shown a need to work together on evidence to inform the actions that must be taken to protect workers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

“Where there is good existing evidence – such as on risks from heat and UV radiation – we must collaborate to get that knowledge to sectors and regions that need it – sometimes suddenly – as their industries change. This will be key to protecting workers.”

The IOSH white paper entitled The Heat is on: Protecting Worker Health and Safety from the Impacts of Climate Change is available here.

The Lloyd’s Register Foundation report can be accessed here.