Over 70 per cent of the global workforce is exposed to climate change-related risks, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) revealed on Monday. The report, titled Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate, warned that these figures are set to rise as climate change accelerates. Workers, particularly those in low-income brackets, are more susceptible to climate extremes such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes. They often face exposure for longer periods and at greater intensity. As these hazards evolve and intensify, the ILO calls for a re-evaluation of existing legislation and the creation of new regulations and guidance. The report highlighted that the share of global workers exposed to the most common hazard, rising temperatures, has increased by around 5 percentage points over the last two decades to 70.9 per cent. Other climate dangers often co-exist, creating a cocktail of hazards, with UV radiation and air pollution each affecting 1.6 billion people. Climate-related hazards, including air pollution, excessive heat, and UV radiation, are associated with severe health conditions such as cancer, kidney dysfunction, and respiratory illnesses, leading to a significant number of occupational deaths annually, with air pollution being the deadliest risk. The report emphasised that the greatest impacts will be felt by the working poor, those in the informal economy, seasonal workers, and workers in micro and small enterprises. It also warned that some technologies meant to slow climate change, like solar panels and lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, can produce new dangers due to their toxic chemicals.
