Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545828
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JULY 2026 making falls f rom height, machinery-related incidents and other workplace accidents more likely. They also exacerbate cardiovascular stress, dehydration and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In this sense, climate change functions as a risk multiplier, reinforcing existing hazards while increasing both their f requency and severity. Occupational health and safety systems must therefore evolve alongside the changing climate. A Mediterranean Reality These developments are particularly signif icant for Malta. The Mediterranean is recognised internationally as one of the world's principal climate change hotspots. Malta has experienced a measurable warming trend, with mean annual temperatures increasing by approximately 0.23°C per decade over the past f ifty years. Recent summers have consistently exceeded historical climatic norms, while temperatures have reached 41.5°C during June heatwaves. Perhaps the clearest illustration of Malta's vulnerability comes f rom a landmark study published in Nature Medicine in 2025. Modelling future climate scenarios across 854 European cities, researchers concluded that Malta is among the locations projected to experience one of Europe's greatest increases in heat-related mortality, with increases in heat deaths expected to outweigh reductions in cold- related mortality under every warming scenario examined. Climate change is therefore no longer a distant environmental concern. It is already altering the conditions under which people live and work. From Scientific Evidence to Public Policy – Malta's Proactive Approach Despite the growing body of scientif ic evidence, regulatory responses across Europe remain f ragmented. There is currently no binding European Union Directive establishing maximum working temperatures, with Member States relying on varying combinations of legislation, guidance and weather- warning systems. Against this backdrop, Malta has adopted a proactive, precautionary approach grounded in scientif ic evidence. The 2024 reform of the Health and Safety at Work Act empowered the Occupational Health and Safety Authority to issue Administrative Instruments which When Climate Change Becomes a Workplace Hazard For decades, climate change has been discussed primarily in terms of carbon emissions, renewable energy and rising sea levels. Increasingly, however, attention is turning to another consequence with profound implications for the world of work: the impact of rising temperatures on worker health and safety. Occupational heat exposure is no longer a hypothetical concern or simply a seasonal inconvenience. It is an emerging workplace hazard supported by an expanding body of scientif ic evidence. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that more than 2.41 billion workers - over 70 per cent of the global workforce - are exposed to excessive heat every year. Heat exposure is associated with approximately 22.85 million occupational injuries and almost 19,000 work-related deaths annually. Within the European Union, around one-third of workers are now exposed to climate- related occupational risks, with extreme heat representing one of the most signif icant emerging challenges. Research also demonstrates that occupational heat is not solely a concern during exceptional heatwaves. A systematic review published in Environment International concluded that the risk of occupational injury increases by approximately one per cent for every additional degree Celsius, meaning that even modest increases in ambient temperature can have measurable consequences for workplace safety. Other studies have shown that excessive heat contributes to dehydration, fatigue, slower reaction times, impaired concentration and poorer decision- making. Occupational heat exposure has also been linked to heat strain, reduced productivity and an increased risk of kidney disease among workers undertaking physically demanding activities. These f indings fundamentally change how heat should be understood. Heat is not simply an issue of comfort or wellbeing; it is an occupational hazard requiring the same systematic approach to risk assessment and prevention that applies to any other workplace risk. Climate Change as a Risk Multiplier Climate change does not necessarily create entirely new occupational hazards; rather, it amplif ies existing ones. Higher temperatures increase physical strain and fatigue, reduce concentration and impair judgement, Climate change is no longer solely an environmental challenge. It has become an occupational health and safety challenge - and Malta has chosen to respond proactively by translating scientific evidence into enforceable protection for workers. Why occupational heat is no longer simply a seasonal issue OHSA - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AUTHORITY The scientific evidence is clear: climate change is changing the conditions under which people work. Malta has chosen to be a forerunner in this area by turning evidence into enforceable protection through Administrative Instruments. Occupational health and safety systems must evolve accordingly. Prevention is not about reacting to today's temperatures, but preparing workplaces for tomorrow's climate. 2.41 BILLION 22.85 MILLION 19,000 DEATHS workers exposed to excessive heat each year occupational injuries associated with heat exposure linked to work- related heat exposure annually Dr Josianne Cutajar Chief Executive Officer OHSA carry the force of law, enabling emerging occupational risks to be addressed more rapidly than through traditional legislative processes. This mechanism has already been used to introduce two binding instruments addressing occupational heat and extreme weather. Administrative Instrument No. 2 of 2025 introduced mandatory protections against heat stress on construction sites, including enhanced preventive measures once temperatures reach 40°C. This was followed by Administrative Instrument No. 1 of 2026, requiring preventive action - including the suspension of certain outdoor work - during Red Weather Warnings. In comparative terms, Malta has moved further than many European jurisdictions by transforming scientif ic evidence into legally enforceable occupational protections. Rather than relying solely on guidance, the Administrative Instruments provide employers and workers with clear legal obligations designed to prevent avoidable injuries and fatalities. The Future of Occupational Health and Safety Legislation alone, however, is not enough. As climate change continues to reshape the working environment, employers must increasingly integrate heat into routine risk assessments, adapt work organisation during periods of extreme temperatures and ensure workers understand the symptoms of heat-related illness. Occupational heat also forms part of a broader spectrum of climate-related workplace risks, including ultraviolet radiation, deteriorating air quality, extreme weather events and psychosocial pressures. Occupational health and safety has continually evolved in response to changing technologies, industries and patterns of work. Climate change represents the next stage in that evolution. The question is no longer whether climate change affects workplaces - the scientif ic evidence has already answered that. The challenge now lies in ensuring that occupational health and safety systems evolve at the same pace as the risks they are designed to manage. Malta has chosen to respond proactively. As temperatures continue to rise, the true measure of success will not be the number of laws enacted, but the number of injuries prevented, illnesses avoided and workers who return home safely at the end of each working day. Every Worker Counts - Kull Ħaddiem Jgħodd ohsa.mt 138