Europe is facing an unprecedented wave of high temperatures, while July, the hottest month of the year, is expected to further worsen working conditions. The climate crisis is now substantially changing the work environment, making heat stress one of the most significant challenges for workers' health and safety.
Responding to this new reality, the EL.IN.Y.A.E. - Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety presents a new edition on Heat Stress in the Workplace, a scientific tool that brings together the most recent data and international guidelines, offering practical and immediately applicable solutions for businesses and workers.
The data are particularly alarming, the relevant announcement notes. One in five workers in the European Union has already been exposed to extreme heat during work, while in southern Europe – with Greece among the leading countries – the rate reaches one in three.
According to current data from the World Health Organization, more than 1,300 “excess deaths” have been recorded since 21 June, which are linked to high temperatures in Europe. At the global level, 71% of the workforce are exposed to excessive heat, resulting in 22.85 million injuries and nearly 19,000 deaths every year.
Even more worrying is that 90% of exposure and 80% of workplace accidents occur outside the official heatwave periods, due to the daily accumulation of heat stress. At the same time, productivity decreases by 2.3% for each additional degree Celsius above 19°C, while high temperatures significantly increase the risk of workplace accidents, industrial fires, and material damage.
The new edition by EL.IN.Y.A.E. includes proposals for the effective prevention of heat stress, such as:
- Organization of work by moving the most demanding tasks to the cooler hours of the day and establishing frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
- Gradual acclimatization of workers, especially for those who are hired or return after an absence.
- Technical measures, such as strengthening ventilation, shading, thermal insulation, and the use of microclimatic indicators, such as WBGT.
- Continuous access to cool drinking water and training for the timely recognition of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
- Selection of appropriate, light, and breathable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Particular emphasis is placed on groups of workers who face increased risk, such as those employed in agriculture, construction, industry, foundries, greenhouses, professional kitchens, and other spaces with high thermal load, as well as workers with chronic illnesses or other vulnerabilities.
Statement by the Chair of the Board of Directors of EL.IN.Y.A.E., Ms. Rena Bardani
“Heat stress is no longer a future challenge. It is a daily reality that affects the health, safety, and productivity of millions of workers. The extreme temperatures that are being recorded increasingly often in our country and throughout Europe require heightened vigilance and a responsible attitude from all of us, as the climate crisis is radically changing working conditions and requires immediate adaptation.
At EL.IN.Y.A.E. we continuously invest in the production of scientifically documented knowledge and in the development of modern tools that support businesses and workers in the prevention of occupational risks.