WHS impacts of climate change — development of a national strategy announced
Safe Work Australia (SWA) has announced the development of national strategy on the WHS impacts of climate change, following the release of the Best Practice Review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, which found that climate change is intensifying existing workplace hazards and creating significant strategic challenges for Australia’s WHS system.
The WHS impacts of climate change are complex and will vary across industries, workplaces and workers, the review found. The review also identified rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves as the most immediate WHS risks associated with a changing climate.
“Workers also face increased exposure to floods, bushfires, poor air quality, communicable diseases, UV radiation and agrochemicals associated with increased pesticide use,” SWA said. “The new national strategy will provide a framework for turning this evidence into practical action, informing policy, regulation and workplace practice and supporting a coordinated national approach to protecting workers’ health and safety as the climate changes.”
SWA CEO Marie Boland said: “Climate risk cannot remain a future or environmental issue. It is an immediate WHS issue, and it must be incorporated into present-day hazard identification, and risk management and injury prevention.”
Boland also said: “The strategy will strengthen the research, evidence and data needed to inform policy and practice, and consider how the model WHS framework can continue to protect workers as our climate changes.
“Responding to climate-related WHS risks requires a coordinated national effort. The strategy will support collaboration across governments and the broader community and help ensure WHS is central to Australia’s response to climate change.
“Our vision for Australia’s WHS framework is to provide nationally consistent protections for workers from the risks of climate change.
“That means supporting employers to effectively manage these risks, supporting a nationally consistent enforcement approach by regulators, and ensuring WHS is considered in broader national climate change planning.”
You can learn more about the Best Practice Review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws here.
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