#iwmd24\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0Climate risks for workers\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/b>|\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ITUC International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day\/Day of Mourning theme announced<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n
The climate crisis is creating new and heightened occupational risks to workers, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is warning.<\/p>\n
Extreme weather and changing weather patterns are affected job security and health for workers, the global union body says. In response to the crisis, it says, the theme for\u00a0International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day<\/a>\u00a0on 28 April 2024 will be\u00a0\u2018Climate risks for workers\u2019.<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b>Heat-related deaths and diseases in workers in agriculture, construction and other outdoor jobs have soared, ITUC notes. It adds work in extreme weather can cause fatigue and increases in workplace injuries and stress-related disease. Elevated levels of airborne pollution associated with heatwaves can lead to increased hospitalisations and deaths, it warns. And it adds higher UV exposures place workers at risk of chronic health problems, including skin cancer and eye damage (macular degeneration).<\/p>\n The ITUC alert comes in the wake of climate-related health warnings from UN agencies. A\u00a0World Health Organisation<\/a>\u00a0(WHO) December 2023 statement noted the year had witnessed \u201can alarming surge in climate-related disasters, including wildfires, heatwaves and droughts, leading to the displacement of populations, agricultural losses and heightened air pollution. The ongoing climate crisis has significantly increased the risk of life-threatening diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue.\u201d<\/p>\n A September 2023 International Labour Organisation (ILO) just transition policy brief,\u00a0Occupational safety and health in a just transition<\/a>, noted the climate crisis \u201cwithout proper controls in place, may increase the risk for injury, disease and death for workers due to heat stress, extreme weather events, exposure to hazardous chemicals, air pollution and infectious disease, among others.\u201d<\/p>\n ILO added: \u201cNumerous health effects on workers have been linked to climate change, including injuries, cancer cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and effects on their psychosocial health. There has been an increase in the estimated number of deaths among the global working-age population due to exposure to hot temperatures.\u201d<\/p>\n ITUC notes that climate change is also putting workers at increased risk from infections. \u201cThe climate crisis, urbanisation and changing land use are impacting on occupational health and safety and have led to biological hazards posing new risk or risks in new places,\u201d a December 2024\u00a0ITUC briefing on biological hazards<\/a>\u00a0notes.<\/p>\n It is a point reinforced in the ILO just transition policy brief, which warns \u201crisks from vector-borne diseases, such as malaria or dengue fever, will increase with warming temperatures, including potential shifts in geographic range of these vectors as a result of climate change.<\/p>\n \u201cThis development affects all workers, especially outdoor workers who are at higher risk of contracting vector-borne diseases, from vectors such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Moreover, infectious diseases may also affect workers via waterborne and foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella spp. when they have direct contact with contaminated water or food.\u201d<\/p>\n ILO has said it will commemorate\u00a0World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April<\/a>, and will follow the theme adopted by ITUC and unions worldwide, focusing on \u201cthe impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health\u201d. ILO added it will produce supporting promotional materials including a\u00a0poster<\/a>\u00a0and report and will organise a global event with experts and guest speakers from governments, employers and workers \u201cto discuss how to protect workers and respond to this global challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n ITUC will produce its own guides and social media resources which will be available on its dedicated International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day website,\u00a0www.28april.org<\/a><\/p>\n Resources<\/b><\/p>\n ITUC climate change webpages<\/a>.<\/p>\n ITUC global shifts \u2013 just transition webpages<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hazards climate and workers\u2019 health webpages<\/a>.<\/p>\nShare this post<\/h3>