Climate change and occupational safety and health

Data shows that climate change is already affecting workplaces: one third of EU workers are exposed to risks, such as extreme heat, extreme weather events or poor air quality. At the same time, 31% of workers are concerned about the impact of environmental risks on their safety and health at work (EU-OSHA OSH Pulse survey 2025).

Therefore, understanding climate-related OSH risks is key to assessing and managing them. That’s why EU-OSHA is conducting a range of research activities to provide in-depth information for policy, prevention and practice on the challenges posed by climate change.

Climate-driven impacts on OSH

Rising temperatures 

A major concern for indoor and outdoor workers. Extreme heat can cause fatigue, dehydration, worsening of chronic diseases, and severe heat illnesses. Physical work heightens body temperature, while heat stress impairs judgment and increases accident risk. Poor recovery between shifts, especially when workers live in inadequately cooled homes, adds to the burden.

Extreme weather events

Floods and wildfires are projected to increase in number and severity across Europe, causing injuries and fatalities. Severe weather conditions may increase the risk of drowning, burns, or frostbite. Emergency workers face additional risks from toxic gases, explosions, and fire hazards.

Air pollution 

Elevated air pollution and rising levels of aeroallergens (e.g. higher levels or increased allergenicity of pollen), due to climate change in combination with other factors, boost the risk of respiratory illnesses, and other health issues ─ both indoors and outdoors.

Who is at risk?

Outdoor workers

High exposure to heat, extreme weather, pollutants, and vector-borne diseases are key issues.

• Sun exposure raises skin cancer risk and impairs cognitive performance.
• Extreme weather events increase injuries, stress, and fatalities.
• Diseases like Lyme and dengue are spreading geographically.

Typically affected jobs:

• Farmers and forestry workers: exposed to heat stress, tick-borne diseases, pollutants, allergens, and post-disaster clean-up risks of injury and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Construction workers: often operate in urban heat islands, facing heat stress and accident risks.
• Emergency services: firefighters, police, and medical responders face heat exhaustion, burns, toxic exposure, accidents, and psychological strain.

Indoor workers

Vulnerable during heatwaves, especially in poorly ventilated buildings or heat-intensive industries.

• Heat can impair cognitive performance and exacerbate sick building syndrome.
• Healthcare workers using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in hot conditions may suffer exhaustion and breathing difficulties.
• Heatwaves increase demand for medical care, creating high stress and workloads, particularly for ageing staff in urban hospitals subject to urban heat islands.

Policy responses

• EU Member States require employers to carry out workplace risk assessments and set preventive measures to protect workers from any workplace risk. These measures should follow the hierarchy of control, giving priority to technical and organisational solutions before resorting to personal measures.
• Some OSH risks are addressed by specific Directives and the national regulations implementing them.
• EU Member States address climate-related OSH risks at different paces. Some countries include recommended temperature limits in regulations or collective agreements, depending on work type and location.
• Climate change mitigation measures can also introduce new OSH risks, for example in renewable energy, green building, or recycling sectors.

See main reports and related publications

Guidance and tools

• Guidance exists in some EU Member States for managing heat and UV exposure, and some countries regulate working temperatures. Measures include adjusting work schedules, providing rest areas, hydration, cooling systems, and protective clothing.
• EU-OSHA provides practical guidance on managing heat-related risks and what to do if a worker suffers from heat illness.
• Awareness raising on occupational heat-health impacts and adaptation solutions for both workers and employers are important.
• Employers should prepare heat action plans and can use digital tools such as early warning systems or heat alert devices.
• Workers must be consulted and trained in applying preventive measures.

Looking ahead: Foresight study on OSH implications of future climate change-related developments and crises

This study explores how work will adapt to the “new normal” shaped by climate change and what this means for protecting workers’ safety and health in the decades ahead. Rather than focusing only on immediate risks like heat stress, the study looks at transformative changes and disruptions in working conditions and how policy and practice must evolve. Its insights will help policymakers and stakeholders anticipate unpredictable challenges while ensuring safe and healthy workplaces for the future.

EU-OSHA is part of the European Climate and Health Observatory, a partnership between the European Commission, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and other organisations to help Europe prepare for climate-related health challenges. The observatory provides easy access to relevant tools, data and resources and fosters collaboration among many actors, both locally and at international level.