From 13 to 14 June 2025 took place in Ružomberok/ Slovakia a seminar about “Climate change and safety and health at work”, organized by NKOS (Nezávislé krestanské odbory Slovenska), with the support of EZA and funded by the European Union.
66 representatives of workers’ organisations from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine participated in the seminar.
The most important aspect of the seminar was to summarize the impacts of climate change on workers' health, safety, and performance, identify associated hazards and risks, and discuss how to protect workers and integrate occupational safety and health (OSH) policies into climate change strategies. The seminar also aimed to plan for a just transition through social dialogue. Workers’ organisations are highlighted as having a crucial role in making societies more resilient and formulating climate change policies
The seminar on "Climate change and safety and health at work" was particularly important because climate change is recognized as one of the most critical issues of our time. The WHO COP24 Special Report has even described it as “the greatest health challenge of the 21st century, with major threats to life, health and well-being”.
The immediate relevance of the seminar stems from:
Growing Impact on Workers' Health and Safety: Climate change is actively affecting workers' safety and health through increased temperatures, UV radiation, exposure to pathogens, air pollution, and extreme weather.
Need for Immediate Action from Social Partners: Both workers' and employers' organizations must be involved in designing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, as they are best positioned to identify workplace challenges and risks.
Addressing New and Evolving Risks: The seminar aims to identify current hazards and risks, and discuss how to respond to them, including integrating OSH policies into climate change strategies and planning for a just transition.
Role of Workers’ Organisations: Workers’ organiosations are increasingly engaging with the climate change agenda and are seen as having an important role in building more resilient societies and developing relevant policy measures and collective agreements.
The seminar covered various topic fields related to climate change and its impact on occupational safety and health (OSH). The discussions included:
The psychological effects of climate change on workplace safety and health.
The role of women and workers’ organisations the context of climate change.
Climate change and active aging, focusing on maintaining health and well-being in a changing world.
The use of AI as a tool for developing critical thinking and creativity in the context of climate change.
Current trends and challenges regarding climate change and its impact on OSH, including psychological aspects.
Education and awareness in the field of OSH in the context of climate change, specifically on how to raise awareness and change behaviour.
Cooperation and partnerships in OSH in the context of climate change, exploring how to unite efforts for a better future.
Practical exercises, prevention, and health care for a healthy and active worker in the context of climate change. Participants learned relaxation and stretching exercises that can also be performed at the workplace. They could have their blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol measured.
Results of discussions, working groups, workshops:
Identification of Key Risks: A summary of the specific impacts of climate change on worker health and safety, including psychological effects and risks across various sectors (e.g., construction, agriculture, paper manufacturing).
Best Practices and Adaptation Strategies: Presentation and discussion of proven practices and innovative adaptation strategies that employers and workers’ organisations can implement to protect workers from climate-related risks (e.g., flexible working hours during heatwaves, cooling zones, mental health programs).
Increased Awareness and Education: Proposals for effective methods to raise awareness and educate workers and employers about climate change risks and OSH measures.
The Role of AI in OSH: Understanding how artificial intelligence can serve as a tool for developing critical thinking and creativity in addressing climate change and OSH issues.
Mental Health Support: Emphasis on the importance of workplace mental health support programs in the context of climate anxiety and stress.
Importance of Social Dialogue: Confirmation of the crucial role of social partners and trade unions in shaping and implementing climate change and OSH policies.
Resolutions:
Call for OSH Integration into Climate Policies: A resolution urging national governments and EU bodies to fully integrate OSH policies and risk assessments into all levels of climate change strategies.
Support for Vulnerable Groups: A resolution focused on the protection and support of vulnerable worker groups particularly at risk from climate change impacts (e.g., older workers, women, outdoor workers).
Investment in Research and Innovation: A resolution calling for increased investment in research and development of new technologies and practices (e.g., cooling protective clothing) to help mitigate the impacts of climate change on workers.
Demands:
Legislative Amendments: A demand for the adoption or updating of legislation (e.g., maximum workplace temperatures, mandatory breaks, access to water) to protect workers from extreme weather conditions.
Financial Support: A demand for financial resources to enable the implementation of climate-related OSH adaptation measures and training within businesses, especially SMEs.
Improved Social Dialogue: A demand to strengthen social dialogue at all levels to ensure a just transition and optimal social and economic impact of changes.
Monitoring and Reporting: A demand for regular monitoring and transparent reporting on the impacts of climate change on OSH at national and European levels.
Consequences for the daily work of participants / concerned organizations and their realization:
Updating Risk Assessments: Participants and their organizations should review and update their OSH risk assessments to include specific climate change-related risks (e.g., heat stress, new vector-borne diseases, extreme weather).
Development and Implementation of Adaptation Plans: Organizations should develop and implement concrete adaptation plans that include measures to mitigate risks (e.g., air-conditioned rest areas, flexible working hours, appropriate personal protective equipment).
Education and Training: Participants, as representatives of workers’ organisations and OSH professionals, should organize and conduct training and information campaigns for their members and colleagues on the impacts of climate change on OSH and how to protect themselves.
Strengthening Social Dialogue: Actively engage in social dialogue with employers at both enterprise and sectoral levels to negotiate collective agreements that consider new climate-related risks and adaptation measures.
Mental Health Support: Integrate mental health support programs into company OSH strategies, including access to psychological support for workers affected by eco-anxiety or climate burnout.
Utilizing Technologies: Explore and implement new technologies, such as AI, to improve the monitoring, analysis, and management of climate-related OSH risks.
Advocacy: Representatives of workers’ organisations should use the knowledge gained to advocate for policy changes and measures at higher levels to ensure fair and safe working conditions in the context of a changing climate.