A global safety charity is calling for more research into the most effective ways to protect workers in the construction industry from safety risks posed by climate change.
According to a report from Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s new Global Safety Evidence Centre, construction workers are increasingly at risk from harm posed by extreme weather events, high temperatures, and exposure to UV radiation.
The Foundation’s World Risk Poll shows that one in five workers globally, or approximately 18 per cent, experienced harm at work in the last two years. This figure rises to 22 per cent in the construction industry.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates workplace harm to be the cause of three million deaths per year. The new report revealed that 12 out of every 100,000 construction workers experience a fatal injury.
Climate change impacts threaten to increase this rate of harm, and the report outlines that rising temperatures are one of the areas of concern. Extreme heat exposure increases the risk of work injuries by 1 per cent for every 1°C increase, and 17.4 per cent in heatwaves, especially in subtropical climates. The report states that outdoor workers in agriculture and construction, as well as indoor workers, especially in poorly ventilated environments, are most affected by excessive heat.
Workers in the construction industry were found to be particularly at risk of heat-related physical injuries, such as burns from handling hot machinery and heat stress. According to the report, this is especially the case for outdoor manual labourers, as well as migrant workers, and workers in regions that experience heat waves, wildfires and high humidity.
The lack of research and evidence when it comes to climate-related risks was also highlighted. In areas where data does exist, it is often limited to one sector or region and doesn’t examine workers in different contexts. As a result, this prompted the Foundation’s global call for more research and knowledge sharing.
“As the effects of climate change continue, the impact on work is also changing. This affects all of us, but some sectors and geographies stand to be more affected than others,” said Nancy Hey, director of evidence and insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
“As this report highlights, there is a lack of evidence on how to protect workers from these growing risks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Filling these gaps in knowledge should be an urgent priority – this work will enable lives and livelihoods to continue safely, and is essential to a thriving global economy.”
The publication of the Foundation’s report coincides with a white paper from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which calls for the development and enforcement of climate-related safety regulations as part of existing labour laws.