Climate Change Puts Over 70% of Global Workforce at Health Risk, ILO Study Shows

A recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that more than 70% of the world’s workforce faces significant health threats due to climate change, with existing workplace safety measures struggling to keep pace.

Titled Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate, the report underscores the profound impact of climate change on the well-being of workers worldwide. According to the ILO, over 2.4 billion workers, representing 70.9% of the global workforce, are likely to experience excessive heat exposure during their employment, a marked increase from 65.5% since 2000.

Beyond the threat of heat stress, the report highlights a myriad of health risks resulting from climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction, and mental health conditions. These hazards form a dangerous “cocktail” of risks for workers.

Key findings from the report include:

• 1.6 billion workers facing exposure to UV radiation, leading to over 18,960 annual work-related deaths from nonmelanoma skin cancer.
• 1.6 billion workers likely to encounter workplace air pollution, contributing to up to 860,000 outdoor work-related deaths annually.
• Over 870 million agricultural workers facing exposure to pesticides, with over 300,000 deaths attributed to pesticide poisoning each year.
• 15,000 annual work-related deaths due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

Manal Azzi, OSH Team Lead at the ILO, emphasized the urgency of addressing these threats, stating, “It’s clear that climate change is already creating significant additional health hazards for workers.” Azzi stressed the need to integrate occupational safety and health considerations into climate change responses, echoing the ILO’s commitment to ensuring safe and healthy work environments.

The report also examines current national responses, including legislative revisions, regulatory enhancements, and the implementation of climate mitigation measures such as energy efficiency initiatives in workplaces.