Ocean workers are already navigating the frontlines of climate change, facing increasing risks with limited support.
Compared to the global workforce, they are not only more concerned about experiencing harm from climate change, but also face a heightened risk from severe weather events, according to a new report by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, an independent global safety charity that supports research, innovation, and education.
The charity’s World Risk Poll 2024 Focus On: Risk Perceptions and Experiences of Ocean Workers reveals that 80% of ocean workers express concern about experiencing serious harm from severe weather events, compared to 72% amongst the rest of the workforce.
This gap is even more pronounced when looking at the intensity of concern – 49% of ocean workers report being very worried, compared to just 37% of other workers.
It also found that 17% of ocean workers identify climate change as the greatest personal safety risk they face, 11 percentage points higher than the rest of the global workforce.
According to the report, one third (33%) of ocean workers report having already experienced serious harm from severe weather events, significantly higher than the 20% reported by other workers.
A quarter (25%) of ocean workers report experiencing harm from their work in the past two years – compared to 18% of other workers, making it the highest of any employment sector surveyed.
Meanwhile, 32% of ocean workers received occupational safety and health (OSH) training in their current role, compared to 38% of other workers. Just 25% have received OSH training in the last two years, suggesting a training gap in a high-risk sector.
When it comes to reporting workplace harm, ocean workers are also less likely to speak up about their experiences.
Only 41% of ocean workers who experienced harm reported the incident, compared to 51% of other workers.
This suggests underreporting is more prevalent in maritime contexts – perhaps due to fear of retaliation, isolation, or lack of reporting infrastructure.
“As climate change continues to amplify the risks they face, prioritizing the health and safety of ocean workers must be a fundamental focus,” the Lloyd’s Register Foundation highlights in its report.
The report is based on new analysis of data from the 2024 World Risk Poll, powered by Gallup, which surveyed 147,000 people across 142 countries.
