What is the impact of air pollution on workplace safety? The new norm of a surge in occupational accidents with a "doubling" of PM2.5 levels

Air pollution, such as PM2.5, not only affects health but also increases the "probability and severity of occupational accidents," according to a study by Yonsei University in South Korea. The study cross-referenced accident records and air quality data from 2000 to 2020, using temperature inversion as a quantitative method to demonstrate causality. When PM2.5 levels double, the risk of accidents increases by 2.6 times, fatalities by 37%, and injuries and casualties by 51%. The impact is greatest in construction and coal mining. The social loss is estimated at $4.9 to $10.1 billion. Companies and municipalities are advised to revise work plans during pollution spikes, improve ventilation and purification, use PPE, and implement early warning systems. Another study also reports that an increase in NO₂ leads to more construction accidents, highlighting the growing international focus on this policy issue.