RECAP OF THE WEBINAR:

Extreme heat in the workplace: Experiences from across Europe

June 10th, 2026

Extreme heat in the workplace is becoming an urgent occupational health and safety issue. Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are putting workers across Europe at serious risk. Workers in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and transport are especially vulnerable to heat stress and dehydration, leading to serious health consequences.

In July 2024, the ILO reported that while national legislation offers some protection against excessive heat, it falls short. Too broad to address the growing risks of climate change.

The numbers are alarming: since 2000, heat-related workplace deaths in the EU have risen by 42 percent. Faster than anywhere else in the world (ETUC, 2025).

Yet protection lags behind. Current legislation is broad and outdated. European guidelines were introduced in 2025, but effective, specific regulations are still missing.

In this webinar we’ve highlighted:
  • The vulnerability of workers
  • The current state of heat-related regulations across European countries
  • The role that regions and municipalities can play, for example by incorporating heat protocols into public tenders.

This webinar featured presentations from:

  • Matthijs Nieuwenhuis, La Isla Network
  • Mamen Marquez, Catalan Trade Union (UGT)
  • Ignacio Doreste, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
  • Jan Popma, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Did you miss our webinar? You can now watch the recording and view the presentations.

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Download the 4 presentations

  • Matthijs Nieuwenhuis
La Isla Network

Matthijs has elaborated on the European response to extreme heat and its impact on workers. Furthermore, he has presented the work by the La Isla Network in developing occupational safety and health interventions that help organizations and workers become more resilient to extreme heat.

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  • Mamen Marquez
Catalan Trade Union (UGT)

Mamen works for the Catalan Trade Union (UGT) and has elaborated on their experience with the prevention of work-based risks. Mamen has been working for several years on heat-related issues.

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  • Ignacio Doreste
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

Ignacio is the senior advisor for health and safety for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and has elaborated on the European process of regulations for heat vulnerability in the workplace.

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  • Jan Popma
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Jan works as a visiting fellow for the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Jan has reflected on the presentations by the other speakers and has shared his own observations on the implementation of heat protocols.

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Take a look at all of our recent webinars about heat adaptation

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This webinar is organized by the European Heat Adaptation Community, together with Samen Klimaatbestendig and Klimaatverbond Nederland and is co-funded by the provincie Gelderland.

Finally, you are very welcome to join the informal European Heat Adaptation Community. More information about the aims and practical arrangements of this community can be found here.