70% of workers exposed to heat and climate change hazards

PETALING JAYA: An estimated 70% of workers worldwide are exposed to hazards from heat and climate change, leading to various illnesses, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Its vice-chairman Manivanan Gowin cited a study by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which stated that the impact of climate change had led to workers being exposed to hazards such as heatstroke, excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation, air pollution as well as vector and agrochemical-borne diseases.

“The ILO in its ‘Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate’ report estimates that up to 860,000 work-related deaths have occurred among those who work outside the office every year due to health problems.

“This is expected to increase due to climate change including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, kidney failure and mental health-related problems,” he said in a statement in conjunction with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work which took place yesterday.

Manivanan said the ILO report also showed that climate change had impacted some 2.4 billion workers who were exposed to the hot weather, adding that these numbers represented more than 70% of the total 3.4 billion workers worldwide.

“In the report, the ILO had outlined several major impacts due to climate change, among them 1.6 billion workers who were exposed to UV rays, resulting in 18,960 deaths due to nonmelanoma skin cancer each year,” he said.

“It also found 1.6 billion workers to be exposed to air pollution at work, causing up to 860,000 deaths among foreign workers every year.”

To combat the impact of heat and climate change, Manivanan urged all parties to join hands and deal with such risks by increasing the level of safety, health and welfare of workers throughout the country.

“Both employers and employees need to join hands in the effort. The institute is ready to provide advisory and consultation services as well as to upgrade its Occupational Safety Health (OSH) training programmes.

“NIOSH is also active in establishing collaborations with various external organisations in the country, including government agencies as well as public and private higher education institutes, to improve studies and services related to OSH.”

To date, he said NIOSH had signed 139 memoranda of understanding for that purpose.