Climate: Working in the heat – how does it do foreign countries?

From sun sails to cooling rooms to the middle of the day: southern countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey, employees and generally the population have always protected from too high temperatures. In some countries there are legal requirements, others rely on long -established measures such as Siesta, closed shops in the lunch hours and longer work in the evening. An overview:

In Greece, the alarm bells are shrinking when the famous Akropolis landmark closes the gates for tourists and employees over the lunchtime. At more than 40 degrees in the shade, it feels like 55 to 60 degrees for the people there depending on clothing and wind conditions. Circulation problems and dehydration can result.

Home office and air conditioning systems

For all those who have no air conditioning at home, the Greek cities open public air -conditioned buildings during heat waves in which you can stay during the day. In addition, the Greek Ministry of Labor takes measures: In heat in the regions of the country affected, it prohibited the work outdoors between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. – for example for construction workers and agriculture, but also for delivery service workers who extend and extend with moped food. In the event of an infringement, the companies are at risk of up to 2,000 euros in a fine per affected employee. There are also guidelines for the private sector, which is legally obliged to enable work in the home office or to hold air conditioning in the offices.

Rules in Spain in 2023 tightened

In Spain, where the heat waves are also becoming increasingly and longer, the legal regulations for the protection of employees have recently been tightened. All sun sails as well as drinking water points, trees, traffic calming and cooling rooms should also bring relief for everyone. Away from the cities, the Spaniards traditionally make their famous Siesta, usually between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The rules for heat protection were also exacerbated at more than 40 degrees in response to the fatal heat stroke of a city cleaning employee in Madrid 2022. Since 2023, work outdoors have had to be restricted or completely interrupted during extreme heat. In the event of violations, punishments of up to almost one million euros are at risk. The regulation applies if the state weather service Aemet publishes a heat warning of the level orange or red. In practice, however, this does not always work: unions criticize that smaller companies in sectors such as agriculture, construction and tourism remain slightly under the radar of state controls.

France’s regulations now strictly

In view of the increasing frequency of heat waves, France upgrades in many areas. Most recently, the regulations regarding the precautions were tightened on July 1, which public employers have to hit at heat waves. It is about protection against heat and sun at work and the provision of at least three liters of water per employee if there is no flowing drinking water on site.

Otherwise, the French holiday rhythm has long served as protection against the worst heat: in August the whole country is in holiday mode, many people are traveling, companies are closed and people take their annual vacation. Many pack their suitcases in July.

Heat protection not legally recorded everywhere

In Slovenia, protection for work in the event of heat outdoors is not regulated in detail, but the Confederation of the Free Unions ZSSS has made suggestions for this. On the other hand, there are laws for jobs indoors, where it must not be warmer than 28 degrees.

In Croatia there are no laws on heat protection. Everything is left to the discretion of the employer. The unions criticize this – and require regulations according to the France model.

Hungary has a very detailed regulation on occupational safety in heat. There are many gradations, depending on the physical severity of the work. If you work heavily outside at more than 27 degrees, the employer must ensure sufficient fluid and breaks. Employees in offices, on the other hand, have to endure up to 31 degrees, only then does the employer have to intervene with cooling measures, for example.

In Romania, the Labor Act regulates that the employer has to adjust the work program in extreme heat and is paused in the noon. It also has to provide drinking water and shady retreats and ensure ventilation, otherwise the work must rest between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The employees can reject the work if it is too hot. The limit is 37 degrees in the shade if this temperature lasts for more than two days in a row.

Drastic punishments in Serbia

In Serbia there are punishments for employers who violate heat protection: up to 17,000 euros can be due for companies. Employees can report an employer who has not taken any measures for their safe and healthy work outdoors at high outside temperatures. The limit is 36 degrees. It is questionable to what extent the sanctions in everyday life are implemented.

Siesta from Roman times

In Italy, the tradition of Siesta goes back to ancient Rome: At that time, people covered a break to the “Hora Sexta”, i.e. at the sixth hour after sunrise – usually at lunchtime. Even today it is common in many smaller cities that shops are closed between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. In contrast, a continuous working day prevails in large cities. For many, the midday heat remains a health risk: the first heat boost of the summer already brought deaths, so a 47-year-old collapsed while concreting outdoors.

Despite recurring heat waves, the Italian government has not yet issued uniform protective measures for employees. Instead, several regions have adopted anti-heat regulations on their own. The Worklimate 2.0 website is used as the basis, developed by the National Research Council and the Inail work accident institute. Based on temperature, moisture and physical stress, it determines the daily work risk: if a company is in the red -marked area, the work must be set at fixed times. Construction sites, quarries and farms are affected.

There are always heat waves in Turkey in summer. In the next few days, for example, the temperatures in the Southeast Turkish metropolis of Diyarbakir should rise to more than 40 degrees. Offices and hospitals as well as subways and buses are usually air-conditioned. Those who work on construction sites or in agriculture are called up to avoid the midday sun and drink enough water. In very strong heat, schools occasionally close. So far, there have been no measures driven by the government to cool the cities, such as greening to reduce temperatures.