Introduction
Workers are increasingly finding themselves faced with the direct impacts of climate change. Hazards in the workplace include extreme heat, bushfire smoke, disease, flooding, psychological stress, and thunderstorm asthma. It is incumbent upon employers to provide a safe workplace but workers must also organise to ensure that they do so.
The following resources were produced and compiled by the Australian Services Union (ASU) for workers organising around climate change and extreme weather related workplace health & safety (WHS). Much of the information is general, but some is specific to Tasmania and Victoria. Check in with your union regarding legal rights and processes in your part of the world.
Workplace Hazards and Climate Change
These resources outline workplace hazards and means that can be undertaken to lessen them.
Extreme weather local government VIC
Bushfire smoke and your health
Climate change – a workplace hazard : OHS Reps
Climate Workplace Health and Safety Guides
These factsheets outline employer duties under law in Tasmania and Victoria as well as information about how workers can establish WHS structures, use regulations to enforce safety and shut down dangerous workplaces, and organise together for improved conditions.
Case Studies Regarding Organising for Safer Workplaces
These case studies show how Australian workers have taken action around a range of WHS issues.
Case Study One: An article about how ASU members working at a public library in Melbourne took action over Covid risks
Case Study Two: A video about how United Workers Union members in various warehouses walked off the job to demand protective equipment
Case Study Three A podcast discussing how workers, including Maritime Union of Australia members working at Port Botany Sydney, and elsewhere responded to bush fire smoke and other climate change related hazards
Case Study Four An article discussing the role of collective action in dealing with the effects of climate change and campaigning to prevent it from becoming worse.
General Organising Guides
These are a selection of guides produced by Labor Notes about general principles and tips for successful workplace organising.
Dealing with apathy and resignation
Anger, Hope, Urgency, You: Talking about issues