Cookie Control

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

Some cookies on this site are essential, and the site won't work as expected without them. These cookies are set when you submit a form, login or interact with the site by doing something that goes beyond clicking on simple links.

We also use some non-essential cookies to anonymously track visitors or enhance your experience of the site. If you're not happy with this, we won't set these cookies but some nice features of the site may be unavailable.

By using our site you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy.

(One cookie will be set to store your preference)
(Ticking this sets a cookie to hide this popup if you then hit close. This will not store any personal information)

"7 in 10 Workers Worldwide Exposed To Extreme Heat Risks: Study"

"Extreme heat linked to climate change threatens more than 70 percent of workers globally, according to a report released Monday by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

More than 2.4 billion of the world’s workers were at risk for some level of exposure to extreme heat based on data from 2020, the most recent year for which data was available. The ILO also found that the percentage is growing, up from about 65 percent of workers in 2000.

This excessive heat causes about 22.87 million occupational injuries a year, according to the ILO, to which it attributes the annual loss of 18,970 lives and just more than 2 million disability-adjusted years of life. The report also links another 26 million cases of chronic kidney disease to work-related heat.

The report also covers health conditions linked to exposure to excessive heat, including ultraviolet radiation exposure and nonmelanoma skin cancer. The ILO estimates about 1.6 billion workers are exposed to UV radiation, while another 1.6 billion are exposed to air pollution, which contributes to 860,000 outdoor workers’ deaths per year."

Zack Budryk reports for The Hill April 22, 2024.

Source: The Hill, 04/24/2024