The building industry, one of the most affected by climate change at the workplace

EU-level findings from the ‘OSH Pulse 2025’ survey, commissioned by EU-OSHA, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, studied how climate change affects the workplace, showing that the construction and building industry is one of the top three most affected sectors.

The study, conducted with more than 25,000 workers interviewed, showed that 20% reported that they have been exposed to extreme heat, form which 35% come from agriculture, horticulture, 35% forestry or fishing, 26% construction and building, and 24% from supplying gas, electricity, water, mining or quarrying.

By type of occupation, the most affected by the extreme health are the skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled workers, who represent 55%, and the least affected, the professional, technical, or higher administrator occupations, representing 10%.

Moreover, 19% of the interviewed admitted to suffering air quality issues either outdoors or indoors with pollen, dust, smoke, or similar, and the construction or building industry represents 25%, establishing itself again as one of the most affected sectors.

The OSH Pulse 2025 offers a detailed infographic with the results of the study, which focuses on workers’ exposure to climate-related risks, such as extreme heat, poor air quality, and extreme weather events, and highlights how these risks vary across sectors and occupations.

Read the full study OSH Pulse 2025: Climate change at work and visit the EDA library to stay tuned to all our newest publications.