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ARTICLE · 19 JULY 2022

Managing Extreme Heat At Work

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Summer has arrived. Temperatures are rising and there is another heatwave in Northern Europe this week, with maximum temperatures up to 40°C and even beyond.

GlobalEmployment and HR
Benedict Seiwerth
Benedict Seiwerth

Europe is facing a week of extreme temperatures: what are the rules for dealing with a heatwave in the workplace in Germany and beyond?

Summer has arrived. Temperatures are rising and there is another heatwave in Northern Europe this week, with maximum temperatures up to 40°C and even beyond. This is extreme, but temperatures of 30°C and above are now common, and challenging. But what do employers in Germany have to consider? This article provides an overview.

When is it too hot?

Is there such a thing as 'too hot' in the workplace? There are no legally binding upper temperature limits in Germany. However, the 'technical rules for occupational health and safety' contain three reference temperatures during hot summer weather (in ASR 3.5). First, the indoor temperature at workplace should not exceed 26°C. Otherwise, employers 'shall' take appropriate countermeasures. If the indoor temperature exceeds 30°C, employers 'must' take countermeasures. Finally, if the

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