UN 
Each year, workplace injuries and illnesses affect hundreds of millions globally, with nearly three million deaths resulting from job-related accidents or hazardous exposures. Experts are urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to place greater emphasis on occupational health and safety as climate change intensifies the risks faced by workers worldwide.
Rising temperatures and increased frequency of wildfires are exposing millions of workers to extreme heat and toxic smoke, conditions that exacerbate existing occupational hazards. Outdoor and manual laborers, including those in agriculture, construction, and emergency services, are particularly vulnerable. Despite these growing threats, critics argue that the WHO has yet to integrate worker safety robustly into its broader health and climate agendas.
Occupational health experts highlight that addressing these challenges is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth. Protecting workers from climate-related hazards not only reduces preventable deaths and illnesses but also supports sustained productivity and economic resilience.
In response, advocates recommend that the WHO develop comprehensive guidelines and frameworks to mitigate climate-induced occupational risks. This includes promoting adaptive workplace practices, enhancing surveillance of work-related health impacts, and fostering collaboration with labor organizations and governments. Ensuring that worker health is central to global health strategies is increasingly urgent as climate change continues to reshape the nature of work worldwide.
By prioritizing this issue, the WHO can lead international efforts to safeguard millions of workers and contribute to healthier, more equitable labor conditions in a warming world.
