One thing I love about the Caribbean is the people, some of whom include workers. Similarly to the food, events, sites, and other features of the Caribbean, people add a level of diversity and uniqueness that are worthy of appreciation and care. It remains paramount that communities are protected against existing risks to their safety and well-being, including from climate change. However, as climate effects worsen throughout the region, vulnerable groups such as workers are at the forefront of the impacts. Calculating the risks to one’s livelihood vs the impacts that one may face from climate effects, such as extreme heat and flooding, should not be one to easily consider. Yet, many sacrifice their safety to financially sustain themselves and their families. This reality has redirected my focus to challenging the actions that lead workers to such a detrimental position to navigate in.

Facing work-related safety risks from climate change is one that I’ve had experience with from a much younger age and has led to my care and concern for the safety of workers against climate risks. My first working experience was with my mother, where we did outdoor vending of cacti and succulents. We often faced the heat emanating from the surroundings as we walked block by block, doorstep by doorstep. The heat on most days was too much to bear but our persistence for a sale surpassed our comfort. Despite the challenges with extreme heat, I was more concerned about the rainfall. In hotter temperatures, we could navigate outdoors and still generate sales. In the rainy season, we understood that this meant a reduction in sales because when it rained, there was nothing that we could’ve done but wait. This vastly contrasted with heat conditions, as with the heat we still took the risk to work. We prioritized financial gain over the effects because a day without sales meant a day without acquiring food. With rain, however, this wasn’t as probable. If there was a storm warning in place, we understood that if there was too much rain or flooding, we could not proceed with our door-to-door sales. More so, if it rained at the peak times when we’d generate sales, our work day was stopped earlier than anticipated.

Those were my first experiences with climate, weather, and work. As I now immerse myself in actionable steps to reduce climate risks at work, I realize that the conditions we worked through and tolerated have intensified. My experiences are one of the many that persist in Trinidad and Tobago, where many workers continue to face severe and harmful effects of climate change, such as heat fatigue and exhaustion, and damage to produce and products from flooding. Moving forward, my experience in Occupational Safety and Health has led me to recognize the connections between climate and worker justice. I observed that there are insufficient safety policies and practices that account for existing climate risks and how workers can be further protected. Now, I work with communities in Trinidad and Tobago to amplify the experiences and advocacy of workers whose lives and livelihoods are negatively impacted by the climate crisis. Through the Redefining Work Series with Caribbean Feminist, there’s an emphasis on worker safety training, climate education, and policy recommendations so workers can have a greater chance of protection and climate resilience.

It’s possible to exist in a world where workers’ safety, autonomy, and well-being are prioritized. To achieve this, communities must work towards risk reduction. Taking actionable steps to reduce risks can create a more sustainable and resilient society, including existing climate risks that pose threats to workers’ safety and livelihoods. I envision this being a further step toward climate resilience where workers would be guided by risk reduction measures to protect themselves and their communities from climate risks. As organizations such as Caribbean Feminist, and many other advocates, join on this journey, we need to amplify our calls and increase collective action. Our aim to reduce climate risks and create safer spaces doesn’t end with us and we need your support! There are many ways that you can take action, such as signing this petition and learning more about our work on the Caribbean Feminist social media platforms. We need all on board to strengthen our solidarity and improve adaptation and mitigation measures.