Extreme heat in the workplace is becoming an urgent occupational health and safety issue. Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are affecting a growing number of workers across Europe. This trend, driven by climate change, places particularly emloyees in sectors such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and transport at increased risk of heat stress and dehydration, leading to serious health consequences.
In July 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) published the report Heat at work: implications for safety and health, highlighting the lack of standardized policies to prevent illnesses caused by heat stress. The report concludes that while provisions in national legislation exist to protect workers from excessive heat, they are generally broad in nature en do not adequately address the intensifying risk associated with climate change.
European support to address heat risks at work led to guidelines in 2025. But not to effective and specific regulations to protect these workers at hot workplaces.
Recent data further underlines the urgency of the issue. The number of people dying due to extreme heat in the workplace is increasing faster in the European Union than in any other part of the world. Since 2000, heat-related workplace deaths in the EU have risen by 42% (ETUC, 2025), making proactive action imperative.
During this webinar, we will highlight:
- The vulnerability of workers
- Examine the current state of heat-related regulations across European countries
- Explore the role that regions and municipalities can play, for example by incorporating heat protocols into public tenders.
Key note speaker
Matthijs Nieuwenhuis from La Isla Network. He will elaborate on the European response to extreme heat and its impact on workers. And will present the work by La Isla Network in developing occupational safety and health interventions that help organizations and workers become more resilient to extreme heat.
This webinar is organized by the European Heat Adaptation Community of Klimaatverbond Nederland and the CoP Hitte.