Southern Europe has experienced dangerous heat waves this summer that have negatively impacted workers in various industries. High temperatures in the past two months have caused heat-related illnesses and deaths. The heat jeopardizes worker safety, lowers worker productivity, and decreases worker hours. Workers in laborious industries are the most impacted group, with construction workers and agricultural workers being at the highest risk. Various industry leaders are demanding that a maximum working temperature be set to protect worker safety. They are also calling for various measures to cool temperatures at workplaces, such as additional shade structures, more efficient cooling systems, and improved building insulation.
See "UK workplaces will need to implement changes to combat rising temperatures", Sophie Wilkinson, The Guardian, August 8, 2023