Climate change and occupational health of outdoor workers: An urgent call to action for European policymakers

Abstract

Currently, literature on the relationship between global climate change and occupational health and safety has not been very prolific. A recent review (2016), updating a past 2009 review on this topic, has identified seven categories of climate‐related occupational hazards: (a) increased ambient temperature, (b) air pollution, (c) ultraviolet (UV) exposure, (d) extreme weather, (e) vector‐borne diseases and expanded habitats, (f) industrial transitions and emerging industries, and (g) changes in the built environment.[1] Other potential hazards are exposure to wildfires and workplace violence.[2] Across the world, climate change led to higher temperatures and occupational heat‐stress levels in both indoor and outdoor workers.[3,4] However, outdoor workers’ health and productivity in warmer climate are at higher risk because environmental conditions affect health and work productivity for especially those activities that require physical work.[3]