Occupational Safety and Health Response to Climate-related Hazards

Although there is strong evidence that climate change presents OSH hazards, numerous critical questions still need to be resolved regarding specific hazards, sentinel events, risk assessment, and preventive actions. Literature review of evidence on the climate change impacts were done to identify climate mitigation measures with significant potential impacts to the health of workers. The impacts on OSH of climate change events differ from one geographic location to another and involve factors such as local ecology, geography, water supply, worker population, and primary work activities. Additional surveillance, research, and risk assessment activities are developed to better characterize and understand how OSH may be associated with climate change events. Indicators of occupational health status can help identify potential emerging issues and assist in determining priorities for the prevention of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities. To understand the combined impact of environmental factors on workers' health requires the collaboration and expertise of researchers in atmospheric science, occupational and environmental health, epidemiology, medicine, emergency preparedness, and other fields. Forecasting and prevention models that incorporate OSH are needed to evaluate the vulnerability of health care, public health, and emergency responder systems, and to conduct health impact assessments. Programs such as the Chicago Extreme Weather Operations Plan can serve as a model for activating and coordinating a response to climate-related hazards. Integrating climate change and OSH into a comprehensive mitigation planning process will yield the largest health improvements by making an inventory and maps of resources, and partnerships between decision-makers and OSH resource groups.