The United Nations said on Monday that the vast majority of workers around the world are facing a range of health risks linked to climate change, warning that existing regulations are not equipped to provide adequate protection.
“An alarming number of workers are already exposed to climate change-related hazards at work, and this figure is likely to get worse,” the United Nations' International Labor Organization said in a report.
Farmers and others who perform hard labor, especially in hot climates, “may be exposed to a variety of hazards,” including excessive heat, ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, vector-borne diseases, and pesticides, the report said. said.
People who work in hot indoor environments or poorly ventilated spaces are also at risk.
“Workers are among those most exposed to the risks of climate change, but they often have no choice but to continue working, even when conditions are dangerous,” the report said.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
The report found that in 2020, the last year for which statistics are available, 2.4 billion workers, more than 70% of the global workforce, will be exposed to excessive heat at some point. He pointed out that it is estimated that
This is up from 65.5% 20 years ago.
It is estimated that nearly 23 million occupational accidents caused by excessive heat are reported each year, and nearly 19,000 lives are lost each year.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
And these numbers don't include the more than 26 million people who have chronic kidney disease related to workplace heat stress.
The report found that many dangerous health conditions among workers are linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, kidney dysfunction, and mental health conditions.
The International Labor Organization estimates that 1.6 billion workers worldwide are exposed to UV radiation each year, resulting in more than 18,960 work-related deaths each year from non-melanoma skin cancer.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
An additional 1.6 billion people may be exposed to workplace pollution, resulting in the deaths of up to 860,000 outdoor workers annually.
Meanwhile, more than 870 million agricultural workers are likely exposed to pesticides, and more than 300,000 people are thought to die from pesticide poisoning each year.
And 15,000 work-related deaths each year are due to exposure to parasites and vector-borne diseases, the report says.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
Manal Azzi, head of the ILO's occupational safety and health team, said: “It is clear that climate change is already posing significant additional health risks to workers.”
“It is essential that these warnings be heeded. Occupational safety and health considerations must be part of the response to climate change, both in policy and action.”
The ILO said the dangers of climate change may require countries to reassess existing laws or create new regulations to adequately protect workers.
nl/rjm/vog/bp
