The impacts of climate change on work are becoming more and more obvious and visible each year. As a matter of fact, a higher extent of heat stress from higher temperatures and periods of excessive heat appears earlier in the year and last longer. Changes in the atmosphere are also resulting in increased exposure to solar UV radiation. Despite the growing importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the socio-ecological transition appears to be progressing at a gradual pace. All this results in considerable impacts on safe and healthy workplaces and general working conditions. Therefore, it is a challenge for the whole of OSH. Because climate change is a global phenomenon, it requires an international perspective and international cooperation.

Together with international experts from science and practice, we discussed current research results and knowledge gaps, lessons learned and best practices. Among others, the focus was  on options for action on topics such as heat stress, solar UV radiation exposure, their influences on safe and healthy workplaces, as well as challenges for socio-ecological transformation in general.

The event attracted a total of 100 participants from 10 different countries. On this page you will find the presentations that the speakers have made available to us.

Programme/Presentations:

Programme (PDF, 93 KB, Barrier-free file)

General Introduction: Safe and healthy Work in Times of Climate Change (PDF, 1 MB, Barrier-free file)
Thomas Alexander, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany

Designing for climate change using Human Factors and Ergonomics (PDF, 4 MB, Barrier-free file)
Andrew Thatcher, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

Impacts of heat on workers in the context of climate change as a new challenge - A new challenge in regions with previousely mild summers (PDF, 1 MB, Barrier-free file)
Runa Hellwig, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany

Protecting workers from Climate Change impacts: Spanish case (PDF, 97 KB, Barrier-free file)
Marouane Laabbas el Guennouni, European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Belgium

UVR and heat protection for outdoor work - a combined approach (PDF, 4 MB, Barrier-free file)
Stefan Bauer, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany

A quantitative solar ultraviolet radiation job-exposure matrix (UVR-JEM) for Europe (PDF, 3 MB, Barrier-free file)
Henrik Kolstad, Aarhus University, Denmark

Health and well-being - the missing dimensions in the Just Transition discourse? (PDF, 497 KB, Barrier-free file)
Nadja Dörflinger, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany / Adrien Thomas, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, Luxembourg

Policy Workshop on climate change and occupational safety: results and lessons learned (PDF, 4 MB, Barrier-free file)
Verena Kantrowitsch / Stefan Bauer, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), Germany