Worsening climate extremes putting British way of life at risk – advisers

Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), said: “The impacts of climate change are already being realised and are impacting all workers. You could be working indoors or outdoors, or you could be an emergency responder reacting to climate events. This is a growing crisis that will only get worse if collective action isn’t taken.

“As highlighted in our white paper, the heat is on, this action needs to happen at national and local levels, including with businesses. We are calling on governments to factor climate-related risks into their labour and health and safety laws. We want to see more investment, including in research to deepen understanding of the risks to workers. This research should also facilitate adaptations and mitigations to the work-related impacts of climate change.

“Businesses should include these risks in their internal processes, ensuring that they assess the climate-related risks and take action to mitigate them proportionately. Controls in place should include training and awareness for all workers. The implementation within internal processes should all be part of robust occupational health and safety management systems and risk management processes.”