occupational health and safety
Newsletter
Credit: International Labour Organization ILO/Flickr
Indoor farming: a climate solution with hidden dangers for workers
Greenhouse workers face extreme heat and humidity, risking their health in structures designed to protect plants, not people.
Melina Walling and Dorany Pineda report for the Associated Press.
In short:
- Greenhouse and nursery workers are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, often exceeding 100°F, leading to heat-related illnesses.
- These workers lack adequate protections and breaks, making them vulnerable to heat stress, dizziness, and other health issues.
- Efforts to include greenhouses in indoor agriculture solutions need to account for better worker protections and enforcement.
Key quote:
"Many times we don’t leave to cool off for a short while. It’s not because we wouldn’t want to do it, but because we’re scared that they would dismiss us."
— Eulalia Mendoza, former greenhouse worker.
Why this matters:
This isn't just a labor issue; it's an environmental and public health crisis. With regulators slow to adapt and industry leaders often prioritizing profit over people, greenhouse workers are left in a perilous bind. Read more: “Dehumanizing” conditions for Michigan farmworkers.
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Credit: Choo Yut Shing/Flickr
In Vietnam's bustling e-waste market, informal recyclers play a vital role
The informal recycling market in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City showcases how e-waste is managed, with workers salvaging what they can to mitigate environmental harm.
Aniruddha Ghosal and Jae C. Hong report for the Associated Press.
In short:
- E-waste is filling up landfills at an alarming rate, with Asian countries generating almost half of the 62 million metric tons produced globally in 2022.
- Despite rising e-waste, proper recycling systems are scarce, leaving informal workers to collect waste, exposing them to health hazards.
- Collaboration between informal and formal sectors is seen as a potential solution to improve efficiency and safety in e-waste management.
Key quote:
“We are currently generating e-waste at an unprecedented rate.”
— Garam Bel, e-waste officer at the U.N.’s International Telecommunication Union
Why this matters:
Managing e-waste is crucial for public health and environmental safety, and integrating informal recyclers into the formal sector could help optimize resource recovery while protecting workers from hazardous conditions. Read more: Electronic waste from just this year will outweigh the Great Wall of China.
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Newsletter
Credit: ILO SME Productivity and Decent Work/Flickr
Heat conditions are worsening for fashion workers amid climate change
Extreme heat and flooding exacerbated by climate change are impacting the health and safety of garment workers in global fashion supply chains, with many already enduring tough working conditions.
Louise Donovan, Snigdha Poonam, and Albert Oppong-Ansah report for Grist.
In short:
- Workers in fashion's supply chain, especially women, are grappling with dangerous heat and flooding, made worse by climate change.
- Unsafe working conditions are prevalent, with inadequate ventilation, extreme temperatures, and often unclean water.
- Industry efforts have focused more on reducing environmental impact than on ensuring safe conditions for vulnerable workers.
Key quote:
"Workers are suffering from heat stress, from flooding, from water pollution … and we need to protect [them] from that as well."
— Liz Parker, Clean Clothes Campaign
Why this matters:
Advocates say fashion brands must do more to address the climate change-driven threats that endanger the health of workers who produce their garments. Providing safe working conditions not only safeguards these essential workers but also reinforces ethical practices across the global supply chain. Read more: Farmworkers’ vicious cycle of precarious employment, exploitation and climate change
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Extreme heat puts workers in danger. A new report calls for action
For more than a decade, advocates have pushed OSHA to protect workers from heat-related injuries and death.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Day laboreres pay a steep price working in California fire zones
Without adequate oversight, there is little incentive for employers to protect workers during wildfire season.
stateimpact.npr.org
Mine workers’ union wants more protections against COVID-19
The United Mineworkers of America is asking the federal government to issue emergency rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 inside coal mines.
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