Unions in Europe press for new worker protections to counter heat stress
Summary
Unions in Europe are asking for new laws to protect workers from dangerous heat during hot weather. They want rules to limit workplace temperatures and require breaks, shade, water, and adjusted hours to keep workers safe as heat stress causes many deaths each year.Key Facts
- Heat stress causes around 230 workplace deaths annually in Europe, with possibly more during this year’s heatwave.
- Unions want limits based on the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure of how well the body can cool itself.
- Proposed rules include stopping work above certain WBGT temperature limits, ranging from 30°C to 32.5°C depending on work intensity.
- Employers who do not follow these rules could face strong penalties.
- European union groups representing 15 million workers support these heat safety laws.
- In the UK, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) seeks a maximum workplace temperature, with the right for workers to stop work when too hot.
- The TUC also calls for cool indoor temperatures, relaxed dress codes, and flexible work hours to reduce heat risks.
- Activist groups organized national heatwave actions in the UK, providing water and health advice and holding walkouts to raise awareness.
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