UAn ILO report released today shows that regions that were not accustomed to extreme heat now face increased risks, while workers in already hot climates are subject to increasingly dangerous conditions.
Globally, more than 70% of workers were exposed to excessive heat in 2020, an increase of 8.8% compared to 2000.
Although this percentage remains low in Europe and Central Asia (29%), compared to Africa (92.9%), Arab states (83.6%), Asia-Pacific (74.7%) and the Americas (70%), the climate in Europe has warmed at a rate twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, said the UN and the European Copernicus programme.
Furthermore, Europe and Central Asia recorded the largest increase in exposure to excessive heat at work between 2000 and 2020, with the proportion of workers affected increasing during this period by 17.3%, almost double the global average growth, according to the ILO.
According to the organization’s data, the Americas and Europe/Central Asia regions saw the largest increase in work accidents due to heat stress since 2000, with increases of 33.3% and 16.4%, respectively.
“This may be due to higher temperatures in regions where workers are not used to the heat,” the ILO warned, calling heat stress an “invisible and silent killer that can quickly cause illness, heat stroke or even death.”
In April, the ILO warned that climate change has created a cocktail of serious health risks for an estimated 2.4 billion workers exposed to excessive heat worldwide, causing 22.85 million workplace accidents and the loss of 18,970 lives every year.
“We need year-round heat action plans and legislation to protect workers,” said Manal Azzi, ILO team leader for occupational safety and health, in a press release.
According to the study, improving safety and health measures to prevent heat-related injuries in the workplace could save up to $361 billion worldwide in lost income and medical treatment costs.
Read Also: Preventing excessive heat at work can save 332 billion
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Source: https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/2604863/mais-de-70-dos-trabalhadores-do-mundo-expostos-a-calor-excessivo
