Addressing the Impact of Climate Change in the Workplace
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) designates 28 April as World Day for Safety and Health at Work. In 2024, this day takes on even greater significance by focusing on a crucial and highly topical issue: the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health. In a world where climate change is altering weather patterns and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme and adverse weather events, we need to understand how climate change affects work environments and what measures we can implement to protect workers.
Climate Change vs Occupational Health and Safety
This year’s theme, ‘Climate Change and Occupational Health and Safety’, aims to raise awareness of the specific risks that climate change poses to the health and safety of workers in various sectors and regions around the world. From scorching heat waves to devastating floods and destructive hurricanes, extreme weather events can endanger the lives and well-being of workers and also affect the viability of businesses.
Storms, floods and droughts
In addition to high temperatures, climate change is also contributing to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as storms, floods, and droughts. These events can disrupt business operations, damage infrastructure, and endanger worker safety. It is essential that companies include measures to deal with these situations and ensure the safety of their staff in their emergency plans.
The ILO, with the commemoration of World Day for Health and Safety at Work 2024, gives us the opportunity to reflect on the challenges that climate change poses for work environments and the importance of taking measures to protect workers. Promoting adaptation and resilience in the workplace, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change, are some of the steps we must take to ensure the safety and health of workers in relation to climate change.
Changes in Regulations
We are beginning to see how legislators are adapting and introducing changes to our regulations, such as the publication of Royal Decree 4/2023. This affects workplaces and construction agreements, adapting working hours to outside temperatures.
Will we see more changes in the future?
