The “World Day for Safety and Health at Work” on 28th April 2024 draws attention to the dangers of climate change

The ILO (International Labour Organization) focusses on the many risks to employees due to climate change. As climate change intensifies, workers around the world are at increased risk from hazards such as excessive heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather events, air pollution and virus-borne diseases.

The ‘Climate Change Competence Centre’ (KKA) at the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA) is actively researching scientific and technical issues in this area, including heat stress, UV radiation and pathogens.

In Germany alone, the statutory accident insurance records an average of between 4,000 and 6,000 recognised cases of white skin cancer caused by UV radiation. A representative survey conducted by the DGUV in 2022 shows that many companies and their managers are already aware that climate change is transforming the working world.

The impact of climate change on health and safety at work is also assessed at Müller-BBM Industry Solutions GmbH and integrated into the prevention culture. Independent of occupational health and safety, but also with a preventive focus, we support local authorities, project developers and planners in the early stages of urban climatological measures and prepare expert reports as part of approval procedures to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements for the ‘current situation’.

Climate change: effects on urban climate and industrial locations