Workers’ Safety and Health in a Changing Climate: Proceedings from the National Strategic Workshop at the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata

Abstract The Strategic Workshop on “Workers’ Safety and Health in a Changing Climate,” convened by the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), was held in October 2025 at Kolkata. The Strategic Workshop on “Workers’ Safety and Health in a Changing Climate” aimed to foster multisectoral dialog and collaboration to address the growing impact of climate change on occupational health, safety, and productivity, thereby contributing to sustainable development. Convened under the leadership of AIIHPH, NCDC, and NPCCHH, the 2-day workshop brought together senior policymakers, researchers, academicians, and industry leaders from diverse sectors. Discussions were structured around five major, interconnected themes: 1) Protecting Workers from Extreme Weather Events (Heat), 2) Occupational and Environmental Air Pollution, 3) Chemical Exposures in a Changing Climate, 4) Technology for Climate-Resilient Workplaces, and 5) Psychosocial Well-being of Workers. Key recommendations from the deliberations were consolidated after discussions into actionable points, emphasizing the need for an integrated, technology-enabled, and equity-focused approach. Actionable steps included integrating health surveillance with climate data (e.g., WBGT/IMD forecasts), developing a National Chemical Exposure Surveillance Network, adopting AI/IoT-based predictive safety tools, and institutionalizing psychosocial care. The workshop reaffirmed a commitment to the vision of “Health for All, Safe Work for All,” urging interministerial convergence (Health, Labor, Environment) and supportive partnerships—especially with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)—to ensure a climate-resilient workforce.