Increase in workforce at risk can be attributed to both rising temperatures, growing labour force
In a country like India, where 90% of the labour force is engaged in the informal sector, performing outdoor jobs that involve physically demanding tasks in agriculture, construction, brick kilns, and other similar fields, workers face significant risks due to heat stress, given their frequent exposure to extreme heat at work. Photo: iStock More than 70 per cent of all workers worldwide are at risk of exposure to excessive heat, posing significant threats to their safety and health, a new report by International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned.
Out of a global workforce of 3.4 billion, over 2.4 billion workers are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work.
This is an increase of 34.7 per cent in exposure estimates in the 20-year period between 2000 and 2020, according to the report, titled Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate released on April 22, 2024.
Read more: Watch: What does summer of 2024 have in store for India? Heatwaves, rising temperatures, says IMD
The report attributed this rise to a combination of factors, with rising global temperatures due to climate change being a primary culprit. Additionally, the global workforce itself is growing, leading to a larger number of people potentially exposed to dangerous heat conditions.
When calculated as a share of the global workforce, the proportion increased to 70.9 per cent from 65.5 per cent in the last 20 years, ILO said.
Much of 2023 saw a record-breaking trend of rising temperatures. The trend seems to be continuing in 2024. According to the World Meteorological Organization, January 2024 was the hottest January ever recorded. It was also the eighth consecutive month to set a record for being the warmest for that specific month.
In a country like India, where 90 per cent of the labour force is engaged in the informal sector, performing outdoor jobs that involve physically demanding tasks in agriculture, construction, brick kilns, and other similar fields, workers face significant risks due to heat stress, given their frequent exposure to extreme heat at work.
Workplace heat stress refers to the excess heat load a worker can be exposed to due to different contributing factors, acting alone or in combination. These include environmental conditions, such as air temperature and humidity, and heat sources from industrial settings, for example, heat-emitting sources and machinery.
“In general, the countries most affected by heat-related risks have higher rates of working poverty, informal employment and subsistence agriculture. Disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups and communities, such as indigenous peoples who are dependent on agricultural or coastal livelihoods, are at particular risk,” said the report.
The impact of climate change on workers goes well beyond exposure to excessive heat, creating a “cocktail of hazards”, which result in a range of dangerous health conditions.
In hot, rural regions like in India and African and West Asia countries, epidemics of chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology are affecting large numbers of workers conducting heavy manual labour. A high number of agricultural workers have begun dying from irreversible kidney failure, the report noted.
It has been estimated that over 20,000 have died of this disease within a decade in Central America alone. Meanwhile, 26.2 million people worldwide were living with chronic kidney disease linked to workplace heat stress.
Citing another study, the ILO report highlighted that maintaining a core body temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius is essential for continued normal body function. If the body temperature rises above 38°C, physical and cognitive functions are impaired. If it rises above 40.6°C, the risk of organ damage, loss of consciousness and, ultimately, death increases sharply.
Around 18,970 lives and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years were lost annually due to the 22.87 million occupational injuries, which are attributable to excessive heat.
Read more: Most heat action plans in India are not suited to local contexts: Study
The report noted that numerous health conditions in workers have been linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney disfunction and mental health conditions. The impact included:
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