Search

The impact of climate change on the physical environment, ecosystems, and human societies is increasingly recognized as the most important global challenge. Climate change may alter, among others, the thermal environment, the occurrence of extreme weather events, and the human exposure to physical, chemical, and biological pollutants, thus affecting human health with several potential outcomes. The impact of climate change on occupational health and safety has been receiving increasing attention in last years. In the European Union, the health and safety of workers is under the rule of Directive 89/391 and its daughters. In a changing climate, compliance with all requirements of the existing EU regulation entails an additional effort to implement preventive and protective measures. A central role in workers' health protection is played by proper workers' information and training, which is partly in charge of the occupational physicians. This paper provides a basic proposal on topics related to climate change to update workers' information and training and to integrate the curricula of occupational physicians. Importantly, suitable information and training may contribute to promoting workers' health and to implement adaptation measures, which are part of the individual, societal, and global responses to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation across systems1 in agriculture is essential for sustainability under ongoing climate change. Farmers and agricultural employers implement changes in their work (e.g., mechanization, changing crops, managing workspaces) in ways that may directly impact worker health. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with farmers 1 We use the term "agricultural system" to refer to any system that produces livestock and crops, including the social, political, and economic components of that system. and farm labor contractors in three agriculturally productive regions of California. We investigated (1) how farmers view changing climate in terms of worker safety and health; (2) how they are currently adapting to long-term weather patterns; (3) how their choices of management practices might impact their workers; (4) how they view their responsibility for their workers; and (5) what their overall observations are concerning environmental changes. Many employers made a clear distinction between weather and climate but not all agreed on whether they were experiencing climate change. Heat was notably the biggest climate hazard farmers identified. Most of the employers interviewed were proud of their longevity and ability to adapt to changing conditions in the field; however, they did not have established emergency procedures. Despite regulations that put the onus on employers, most participants believed that workers needed to take individual responsibility to keep themselves safe in the workplace. This research is one step in an ongoing research process designed to address the impacts of health and safety for agricultural workers in the context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]