Government, employer, and worker experts meeting at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva have adopted the first-ever conclusions on occupational safety and health risks linked to extreme weather events and changing weather patterns. The agreement provides global guidance on how to better protect workers and enterprises from climate-related hazards across all sectors.
The conclusions, adopted after five days of negotiations on 24 April 2026, aim to strengthen national policies and workplace-level measures to address risks such as heat stress, floods, droughts, wildfires, cyclones, and sandstorms. The move reflects growing concern over climate impacts on work, with more than 2.4 billion workers globally exposed to excessive heat alone.
The framework calls for stronger national systems, including evidence-based exposure thresholds, improved occupational health surveillance, and closer coordination between labour, health, meteorological, environmental, and disaster management authorities. These steps are intended to improve preparedness and response to climate-related workplace risks.
At the workplace level, the guidance emphasizes risk assessments, preventive and control measures, emergency preparedness plans, and stronger worker participation in occupational safety decisions. The conclusions highlight the need for gender-responsive approaches and active consultation with workers and their representatives.
The ILO described the adoption as a major milestone in addressing one of the fastest-growing workplace safety challenges. The conclusions will be submitted for approval to the ILO Governing Body in November 2026, with an emphasis on translating the guidance into national and workplace action.
