ABSTRACT:
This study analyzes the intersection between climate change and occupational health, based on the premise that vulnerability is not intrinsic to individuals but a result of socio-historical conditions of inequality. The global scenario, marked by destructive economic growth and precarious labor, exposes the working class to intensified risks. According to the ILO (2024),1 approximately 70% of the global workforce is exposed to high temperatures—a condition that, combined with informality and lack of social protection, increases the incidence of heat stress, disease, and death2. Beyond extreme heat, factors such as ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, extreme weather events, and agrochemical use cumulatively impact labor populations. In light of this panorama, the study highlights the experience of the São Paulo State Health Department (SES-SP) in implementing protective measures. Since 2014, the department has regulated sanitary conditions for mobile workforces and, more recently, established new guidelines: Communique CVS/DVST No. 12/2023 (Surveillance and Care in Natural Disasters) and Communique CVS-SAMA No. 02 (Psychosocial Aspects in Disaster Surveillance)3,4,5. The study concludes that state intervention is indispensable to mitigate the physical and mental impacts of the climate crisis on workers, especially those involved in essential activities and disaster response. It reinforces the urgent need for public policies that combat exploitation and ensure human dignity in the face of environmental threats.