Heat battle at the workplace: Road builders defy 170 degrees Celsius!

Heat battle at the workplace: Road builders defy 170 degrees Celsius!

Anklam, Deutschland - The summer heat has a firm grip on Germany: In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, temperatures are expected to the middle 30 degrees Celsius. While many people are looking for cooling, some jobs are faced with even more extreme conditions. Road builders who are currently in the middle of the asphalting process of the fundamentally renewed B110 in Tutow are not easy. On site, the asphalt temperatures rise to impressive 170 degrees Celsius, while the outside temperatures are 35 degrees, which makes hardly any difference for the builders. These men and women are used to the heat and pull through their daily workload even in extreme weather conditions. Nordkurier reports that ...

Although many know that working outdoors in the heat is often challenging, employees only have limited rights when it comes to "heat -free". Increasing temperatures at the workplace raise questions about the rights of the employees, because there is no legal regulation that provides for a general entitlement to breaks in heat. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are responsible for the security of their employees and have to take suitable measures, but concrete requirements are often not binding. In this way you can decide for yourself how to react to rising temperatures as long as you comply with the general care requirements. Haufe explains the situation…

employee rights and care obligations

At room temperatures from 26 degrees, employers must already be active. If the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, you are obliged to implement measures such as ventilation, provision of cool drinks or flexible working hours. If the temperatures even exceed 35 degrees, the workplace is no longer suitable for work. Employers must immediately find solutions here. Nevertheless: there is no legal claim for heat -free for employees. Tagesschau illuminates the rights at the workplace…

For the many people working outside, this means that they have to rely on their employers to receive protective measures. Sun sails, cool drinks and suitable clothing can be crucial here to protect the health of employees. In extreme conditions as in the construction industry, special regulations must be observed that should meet the protection of workers. In fact, increased conditions such as longer breaks and the provision of water can be the key at high temperatures to keep people in shape in the long term.

climate change and its effects

Another factor that must not be neglected in this discussion is climate change. Heat waves have increased significantly in Germany in recent decades; The number of days with temperatures over 30 degrees has tripled from three times a year in the 1950s to up to nine days. This development not only affects working conditions, but also on the health of the population. An estimated to died around 3,000 people from heat -related consequences in Germany last year. Old people and people with existing diseases are particularly at risk. Cities try to alleviate the heat problem through greening measures and create a more livable environment.

It remains to be seen how working conditions and protection for employees will be further discussed in times of high summer temperatures and, if necessary, improved. Summer has just started, and the heat will probably have a few challenges.