Page 86 - INTERNATIONAL SOS PR REPORT - April 2024

4/30/24, 12:59 PM Climate change heats up workforce safety & health concerns: International SOS calls for action
Home Trending Mobile

CLIMATE CHANGE HEATS UP WORKFORCE SAFETY &

HEALTH CONCERNS: INTERNATIONAL SOS CALLS FOR

ACTION

OdishaRay 12:59:15 PM

New Delhi (26/04/2024): In light of World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, International SOS encourages
organisations to reassess their occupational safety and health (OSH) programmes.
Climate change is intensifying existing OSH challenges, and organisations must prioritise proactive solutions.

This year's theme, "Impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health," highlights the urgency of this evolving
threat. The International Labour Organization (ILO) latest report estimates that over 70% of the global workforce faces
potential exposure to climate-related health hazards.1 These hazards include extreme heat stress, worsening air quality,
and more frequent and severe weather events.
Furthermore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects a decline in growth in labour productivity
due to climate change impacts.2 By 2030, the equivalent of more than 2% of total working hours worldwide is projected to
be lost annually, as a result of extreme temperatures, leading to unsafe working conditions or a decrease in worker
output.3 Dr Olivier Lo, Global Medical Director, Occupational Health Services, at International SOS “The escalating threats
of climate change necessitate a heightened focus on managing risk exposure and health incidents for the workforce.

https://www.odisharay.com/pages/single_page.php?id=43616 2/3