An organization’s team is a key component in its ability to reach and maintain enterprise resilience.
And while many organizations incorporate severe weather and natural disasters into their planning, climate change is bringing a “cocktail of hazards” for workers that go far beyond the physical dangers brought on by a single storm.
According to a new report, more than 70 percent of the global workforce is likely to be exposed to climate-change-related health hazards. In some instances, this will present as the exacerbation of an existing healthcare condition. For example, if there is a period of spiking temperatures and an employee takes medication that puts them at greater risk of heat stroke.
But, in other cases, workplace conditions can create new concerns. For example, according to one estimate 1.6 billion workers are likely to be exposed to workplace air pollution, resulting in up to 860,000 work-related deaths among outdoor workers annually.
Climate change has also been linked to increases in violent crime–particularly against women and girls–and mental health challenges.
Unfortunately, existing occupational safety and health protections are struggling to keep up with these climate-related risks. So, it is up to organizations to understand and anticipate the potential impacts for their team members and take action–which requires complete visibility over their enterprise.
What departments are most likely to be impacted? Do they have coverage if key staffers are on sick leave? What are the specific threats that are most likely to affect our team? And, most importantly, is there anything we can do to mitigate the impact?
Depending on where a company is located, this may mean adapting facilities to better protect workers against sun exposure and extreme temperatures. An organization may also consider providing medical screenings or access to mental health resources that empower employees to get proactive about their health.
Unfortunately, these hazards are not likely to go away anytime soon, and they will almost certainly be compounded as other disruptions occur. So, whatever shape the approach takes, organizations need to begin preparing for the full scope of risks that climate change brings to their teams, or risk the consequences.