Ouagadougou – On Friday, experts gathered to deliberate on the significant impact of climate change on occupational health and safety. This discussion took place during the inaugural Scientific Day of the Burkinabè Society of Occupational Medicine (SOBUMET), emphasizing the prevention of occupational risks.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Secretary General representing the Minister in charge of Health, this event focuses on the crucial effects of climate change on workplace health and safety. He highlighted the adverse consequences like heat waves affecting worker performance and health. “Recent climate-induced phenomena, such as floods and droughts in Burkina Faso, underscore the urgency of this issue,” stated Dr. Ouédraogo during the event in Ouagadougou.
The conference also addressed the need for environmental responsibility and protective actions against the backdrop of these challenges. Dr. Narcisse Oubda, president of the Organizing Committee, outlined that the day’s discussions would extend to occupational safety in high-risk sectors defined by the International Labor Organization, including agriculture, extraction industries, and healthcare.
Dr. Oubda explained that the symposium aimed to forge practical recommendations for national and pan-African authorities, distributing these solutions to employers and workers for implementation. He also advised workers on personal protective measures against the sun and the importance of hydration.
Highlighting the broader implications, Dr. Désiré Nacoulma, representing the event sponsor, emphasized the dire statistics on climate change’s impact on labor conditions, which affect company productivity and employee collaboration. “It is crucial for SOBUMET to address these issues to enhance the well-being of both workers and employers,” he added.
This event coincided with global and African commemorations of occupational risk prevention, focusing on the theme of climate change’s impact on worker health and safety, and promoting concerted action across the continent to mitigate occupational risks.