Several vital economic sectors, with activities carried out outdoors, are the most exposed to heatwaves in Europe. However, there are also employees who do not work under the sun but must endure very high temperatures in the summer.
One in five employees in the European Union is exposed to high temperatures at the workplace, and extreme heat is one of the occupationally related risks with the fastest-growing impact due to climate change, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).
The most exposed to this risk are employees working outdoors or in indoor environments with very high heat. Agriculture, construction, transportation, manufacturing industry, emergency services, and tourism are among the sectors with the highest impact on health and productivity during increasingly frequent heatwaves, as reported by Euronews.
Agriculture and Construction are on the Front Line
Agriculture is consistently the most exposed sector to extreme heat.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) states that agricultural workers face prolonged exposure to direct sunlight while performing physically demanding tasks that further increase body temperature.
Construction workers face similar risks, often spending long hours outdoors, performing heavy manual tasks while wearing protective equipment that limits the body's ability to cool down.
The 2024 European Working Conditions Survey conducted by Eurofound revealed that 68% of agricultural workers and 52% of construction workers are exposed to high temperatures for at least a quarter of their working time. Exposure is also prevalent in the industry (33%) and transportation (33%).
The survey also found that the proportion of European workers exposed to high temperatures for at least a quarter to three-quarters of their working time has increased from 13% in 1995 to 21% in 2024, highlighting how heat exposure has become more common among the workforce.
Occupations with the Highest Heat Exposure
Heat exposure varies significantly by occupation rather than by sector.
According to Eurofound, skilled agricultural workers are by far the most exposed, with 72% stating that they work at high temperatures for at least a quarter of their working time.
They are followed by craftsmen (53%), while equipment and machinery operators (42%) and elementary occupations (40%) also report high levels of exposure.
Other occupations, including those in services and sales, are less exposed. Managers, professionals, and administrative workers have much lower levels of exposure.
- Skilled agricultural workers - 72% exposure
- Craftsmen and skilled workers - 53%
- Equipment and machinery operators - 42%
- Elementary occupations - 40%
- Employees in services and sales - 28%
- Technicians - 18%
- Managers - 15%
- Specialists - 13%
- Administrative workers - 13%
Source: Euronews - 2024 Eurofound European Working Conditions Survey
Many of the most affected sectors employ a large number of seasonal workers, migrants, and self-employed workers, groups that often have weaker job protection and lower levels of union representation.
Men are Much More Susceptible to Exposure
Heat exposure also differs significantly by gender, as many of the occupations with the highest risk remain male-dominated, as noted by Euronews.
Eurofound found that 34% of men are exposed to high temperatures for at least a quarter of their working time, compared to 18% of women.
Heat is becoming an increasing risk to workplace health. According to EU-OSHA, prolonged exposure to this risk factor can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, while also exacerbating cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. High temperatures also reduce concentration and reaction times, increasing the risk of workplace accidents.
Risks Vary by Occupation
Farmers and forest workers are increasingly exposed to tick-borne diseases, allergens, and air pollution. Construction workers are also increasingly affected by urban heat islands that raise temperatures significantly above those in surrounding areas.
Emergency workers, including firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, often operate in the most dangerous conditions under unbearable heat.
Productivity Losses
A recent report by Allianz Trade shows that once temperatures exceed around 30°C, productivity losses accelerate sharply and become a structural hindrance to economic growth, rather than a temporary disruption related to weather.
Construction and agriculture are among the most affected sectors, as work pace slows down or stops during the hottest hours of the day.
Heat also creates extensive disruptions across the economy. The manufacturing industry faces higher cooling costs and lower worker productivity, while transportation networks experience delays as roads soften, and railway tracks expand or deform.
Electric systems are under increasing pressure as cooling demand rises, and gas, coal, and nuclear power plants become less efficient due to warm river waters reducing their cooling capacity.
Agriculture remains particularly vulnerable as crops and animals are directly exposed to prolonged heat and drought, leading to lower yields and higher food prices.
According to Eurostat, agriculture represented 1.2% of the EU's GDP in 2024, although its importance varies greatly among member states, reaching over 3% of GDP in Greece and 2.5% in Romania.
On the other hand, construction contributes about 9% to the EU GDP and provides employment for around 18 million people, according to the European Commission.
How Employees Should be Protected
Several countries have strengthened or implemented measures regarding heat in the workplace, including restricting outdoor work during the hottest hours, shortening shifts, and requiring employers to provide water, shade, and additional rest breaks.
Meanwhile, the European Trade Union Confederation last week called on the European Commission to introduce mandatory EU rules on occupational heat exposure, including a maximum working temperature, mandatory paid cooling breaks, and guaranteed access to drinking water, arguing that the current patchwork of national regulations leaves many workers inadequately protected.
T.D.