Too hot to think, too hot to work

Many European countries experienced extreme heat in May and June’s heatwaves, a third wave affects France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. 12 people died in one of the worst wildfires to hit the Spanish hamlet of Bédar. But what of the workers?

Working in extreme heat can be deadly. And as our bodies struggle to function in the heat, workplace accidents rise sharply.

Heat-related workplace fatalities in the EU have increased by 42% since 2000

Countries, like Belgium, Hungary, and more recently Poland, have set maximum working temperatures, most haven’t. There is no EU-wide law on maximum working temperatures, putting millions at risk injury or even death during a heatwave. While France recorded its hottest day ever (24th June 2026) at 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 Fahrenheit) in parts of Landes, over 2000 more people than usual died in a single week

“June 2026 underscored how profoundly the climate is changing. Western Europe recorded its warmest June on record, and continued record warmth in the global ocean. Together, these records reflect a climate system continuing to accumulate heat. The result is increasingly intense heatwaves, a persistently warm ocean, and growing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure across Europe and beyond.”
Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

The WeMoveEurope community have launched a petition calling for the European Union to introduce sufficient legislation to protect workers from excessive heat. This includes but is not limited to:

• Risk minimisation measures such as shaded areas, access to water, adapted work hours and cooling breaks.
• Maximum working temperatures – taking into consideration aspects such as the type of work (e.g. sedentary or physical labour), location, sun exposure and more
• Mandatory workplace heat risk assessments that are inclusive and take into account the specific risks that heat exposure poses to groups like pregnant or older workers, or workers with pre-existing health conditions.
  
  The petition can be accessed here