Rise of 42% in work-related heat-related fatalities reported in the EU since the year 2000, alleges a labor union
Amidst a scorching heatwave sweeping across Europe, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has proposed a series of common rules to protect workers' health during heatwaves. The aim is to reduce heat-related risks and ensure workplace safety when temperatures rise dangerously high.
The ETUC's proposals include the right for workers to stop working during extreme heat, heat risk reduction measures by employers, sector-specific protective guidelines, mandatory training and preparedness, and legislative action at the EU level.
Workers should be allowed to halt work when temperatures in their environment become unsafe, as heat increases the risk of accidents and health problems. This is particularly important for outdoor workers in construction, farming, and cleaning sectors. Employers are obliged to modify work environments to lower heat exposure, providing measures such as improved ventilation, shorter working hours during peak heat, and provision of heat-protective equipment.
For instance, Belgium has set maximum working temperatures at 29°C for light physical work, 26°C for moderately heavy physical work, 22°C for heavy physical work, and 18°C for very heavy physical work. Latvia has a maximum indoor working temperature of 28°C, while Hungary's maximum working temperatures are 31°C for sedentary work and light physical work, 29°C for moderate physical work, and 27°C for heavy physical work.
In schools, regulations call for uniform occupational health and safety rules to protect students and employees. These include modernizing facilities with green roofs, shade sails, free drinking water supply, and even adapting school schedules to use outdoor spaces during cooler times.
The ETUC is also advocating for first aid and safety training on managing heat stress to be provided universally across workplaces and schools. They are urging EU leaders to introduce binding legislation to enforce maximum working temperatures and ensure employers comply with health protections during heatwaves.
Recent tragedies, such as the heatwave-related work deaths reported in Spain and France, highlight the urgent need for such measures. The ETUC's call for uniform, legally binding rules across all sectors includes provisions for assessment of risks, considering factors like humidity, shade availability, ventilation, and sunlight exposure.
The ETUC's proposals come as the EU has seen a 42% increase in heat-related deaths in the workplace since the turn of the century. In the EU, 36% of workers in agriculture and industry, and 38% in construction, are exposed to high temperatures at least a quarter of the time.
The ETUC is not alone in its calls for European measures to protect workers from heat-related risks. Similar heatwave-related tragedies have occurred in Italy and Greece in previous summers. The confederation is advocating for maximum working temperatures to be set for different sectors of activity.
By implementing these measures, the ETUC hopes to limit exposure to extreme heat, provide adequate rest, hydration, protective gear, and allow work stoppage when necessary. This comprehensive approach spans indoor and outdoor workplaces, education, and health sectors, emphasizing prevention and adaptation measures during increasing heatwaves in Europe.
Workers should be granted the right to cease work during severe heat circumstances, as this can minimize the risk of accidents and health issues, especially in construction, farming, and cleaning sectors. Employers, meanwhile, should implement measures such as improved ventilation, heat-protective equipment, and adjustments to work schedules to reduce environmental heat exposure, as part of a wider strategy for workplace wellness that integrates climate-change mitigation and health-and-wellness considerations in environmental-science research.
