About 19,000 workers die worldwide every year due to extreme heat. This information was revealed in a research report of the United Nations Labor Organization – International Labor Organization (ILO) published on Monday.
According to the report titled ‘Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate’ (Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate), about 18,970 workers die every year in the world due to excessive heat.
Climate change-related health risks are emerging in all regions of the world. Out of the 3.4 billion labor force, 2.4 billion people are exposed to excess heat in some way. That means more than 70 percent of the global workforce is exposed to excess heat.
According to the ILO report, more than 2 million people have to live with various disabilities due to about 200 million ‘occupational accidents’ due to overheating. Workers working outdoors in agriculture, construction, transport sectors are at risk of death and disability due to overheating. They are at risk of heat stress, heat stroke, heat cramps, rash, skin cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, kidney disease and mental health. Pregnant women are suffering from various complications.
The report cites data on workplace deaths from other causes of climate change. It is said that 1.6 billion people around the world are at risk of ultraviolet radiation. Because of this, 18 thousand 960 people die of skin cancer annually. 1.6 billion people who work outdoors or on roads are exposed to air pollution. As a result, 860,000 workers died. More than 87 crore people work in agriculture. While doing this work they come in contact with various pesticides. More than 3 lakh workers die annually due to pesticide poisoning. 15 thousand workers die annually due to exposure to parasitic, bacterial, viral diseases (causing diseases like dengue, chikungunya, malaria). Desperation begins among people as job security decreases amid extreme climate change, food shortages, and lack of clean water.
According to the report, many regions including Bangladesh, India and Laos have seen record high temperatures in April last year due to extreme weather conditions. Mentioning this kind of weather as a climate change disaster, the report said, extreme weather has increased anxiety, depression, drug addiction and suicide in Bangladesh, the Philippines and the Caribbean. This calculation is presented on the basis of 2020 data. According to the report, nearly 35 percent more workers are at risk from excessive heat in 2020 than in 2000. The report suggested that this number has increased due to the increase in temperature and labor force.
The report highlights health risks to workers in six areas—excess heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather, workplace air pollution, parasitic-bacterial-viral-borne diseases, and agrochemicals. It is said that in addition to excessive heat, extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts are increasing depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies among all age groups, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or trauma-related anxiety and drug addiction in some countries including Bangladesh. Emergency workers, health workers, fire service workers, fishermen, agricultural and construction workers are also exposed to fragile mental states during disasters.
According to the report, existing occupational safety and health protection is not enough to deal with the health risks caused by climate change. Many countries recognize diseases caused by heat as ‘occupational diseases’. Workers in the informal sector are the worst at risk. Despite the risks, they also work overtime for financial reasons.
Source: CBS News
Bangladesh Journal/OF
