Climate risks in focus for World Day and Workers’ Memorial Day 2024

Safe Work Australia highlighted the importance of raising awareness of work health and safety to help prevent work-related injuries and deaths as it marked the two events.

The International Labour Organization’s World Day theme for 2024 examines how climate change affects occupational safety and health. The International Trade Union Confederation’s Workers’ Memorial Day theme is ‘climate risks for workers’.

Changing weather patterns can expose workers to heat stress, UV radiation, air pollution and extreme weather events. Other risks include major industrial accidents, an increase in vector-borne diseases and greater exposure to chemicals.

The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy provides a platform for WHS improvements over the next decade, including responses to emerging issues such as climate change and the green economy. Safe Work Australia reaffirmed its commitment to safe and healthy work for all.

The agency encouraged everyone to promote World Day and acknowledge Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2024 to recognise the importance of workplace health and safety.

Safe Work Australia has made co-brandable workplace resources available, including a poster, desktop background and social media tile. It also offers practical resources on working safely in severe weather, with further information and downloads available through its World Day and Workers’ Memorial Day web page.

How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your approach to workplace health and safety and identify areas that may need attention. Take the free WHS self-check