Is Extreme Weather Already an Occupational Risk? Key Considerations for Companies in Colombia

Labor and Employment attorney Flora Feijoó Morales was interviewed by Semana magazine about the implications that extreme weather events may have for employers and employees in Colombia. Flora explained that the country's Occupational Health and Safety Management System (SG-SST) provides companies with the tools to identify, assess and manage risks associated with events such as heat waves, floods, wildfires and air quality emergencies, even though current regulations do not explicitly recognize "climate-related labor risks." She also highlighted the importance of implementing preventive measures, emergency protocols and risk assessment mechanisms to protect workers' health and safety in the face of increasingly challenging climate conditions.

Although Colombian regulations do not expressly mention the concept of a 'climate-related labor risk,' the principles and obligations of the SG-SST already allow it to be addressed through hazard identification, risk assessment and the implementation of preventive measures," she pointed out.

READ: Is Extreme Weather Already an Occupational Risk? Key Considerations for Companies in Colombia