New strategy aimed to ensure 'WHS is central to Australia's response to climate change'
Safe Work Australia is developing a new national strategy aimed at addressing climate risk as an "immediate" work health and safety (WHS) issue amid its impact on the workforce.
Chief executive officer Marie Boland announced the development of the strategy on Thursday at the Safe Work Australia Research Connect Forum in Brisbane.
"Today, I'm pleased to announce that Safe Work Australia will develop a national strategy on the WHS impacts of climate change," Boland said.
"The strategy will strengthen the research, evidence and data needed to inform policy and practice, and consider how the model WHS framework can continue to protect workers as our climate changes."
Responding to climate-related WHS risks requires a coordinated national effort, according to the Safe Work Australia CEO.
"The strategy will support collaboration across governments and the broader community and help ensure WHS is central to Australia's response to climate change," she added.
An 'immediate WHS issue' in Australia
The development of the national strategy was recommended by Safe Work Australia's recently released 2026 Best Practice Review of the model WHS laws.
The review found that climate change is intensifying existing workplace hazards and creating challenges for the country's WHS system.
"Climate change is exacerbating existing workplace hazards. Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves pose the most significant risk for mortality and injury," the review read.
Climate-related hazards can also have varying impacts on the workforce, with outdoor workers most at risk of heat stress, as well as employees working in poorly ventilated enclosed spaces and environments.
First responders are likely to be at risk of both psychological harm and physical injury in responding to increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events, according to the review. Certain groups of workers may also be at higher risk of harm, including pregnant women, workers with certain types of disabilities, and gig workers.
"Climate-related hazards are already affecting the health and safety of workers across a range of industries," Boland said.
"Climate risk cannot remain a future or environmental issue. It is an immediate WHS issue, and it must be incorporated into present-day hazard identification and, risk management and injury prevention."
A 'historic step forward'
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said the development of the strategy is a "major step" in protecting workers from increasing exposure to climate change.
"Today's announcement that Safe Work Australia will be developing new WHS regulations to protect workers from climate change is a historic step forward for workers, and couldn't come soon enough," said ACTU assistant secretary Liam O'Brien in a statement.
The ACTU official added that WHS regulations need to protect workers not only from extreme heat, but also from other climate change risks, such as poor air quality and mosquito-borne illnesses.
"Now the work starts to make sure they are strong, delivered soon, and developed with the input of the workers already feeling the heat," O'Brien added.
