Extreme weather and heat as a challenge for safety and health at work.

In December 2025 the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) adopted two new opinions on the effects of climate change. In these opinions it calls on the European Commission to take targeted measures to protect workers – in particular from heat in the workplace and other climate-related risks such as extreme weather, air pollution, and biological or chemical hazards. The background to this is the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Europe, which are having a noticeable impact on the safety and health of workers, especially those in physically demanding jobs.

Heat: The greatest and most urgent threat to workers' health

The statement “Climate change – heat at work” describes heat as currently the greatest climate-related health risk for employees in Europe. Rising temperatures lead to more accidents at work, health problems, and productivity losses – especially in physically demanding jobs and outdoor work.

Although existing EU occupational health and safety legislation recognizes heat as a risk in principle, there is a lack of specific trigger values and binding protective measures. The ACSH therefore recommends, among other things, the use of scientifically based heat indicators (e.g., WBGT), mandatory acclimatization for new or returning employees, and clear regulations on drinking water, breaks, and working time adjustments in high heat.

There is disagreement about the legal approach: while employers mainly favor non-binding guidelines and consider the existing regulations to be sufficient, governments and employee representatives are in favor of binding EU minimum requirements in the form of a directive.

Further climate risks: More prevention and better coordination required

The second opinion addresses other climate-related risks in the workplace, including extreme weather events such as storms, floods, and droughts; air pollution and smoke exposure; new biological risks from the spread of disease vectors (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks), changing chemical risks due to temperature and humidity influences, and increasing psychosocial stresses such as climate stress and climate anxiety.

According to current EU data, around one-third of workers are already exposed to climate-related risks, particularly in construction, agriculture, care, and emergency services.

The ACSH recommends, among other things:

• EU-wide guidelines and digital tools for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises
   
• Better data collection and early warning systems
   
• Stronger cooperation between labor, environmental, and health authorities and the development of action plans at the national level
   
• Strengthening awareness in the context of risk assessment and consideration of new risks
   
• Targeted training for occupational safety and health actors on new climate risks
   
• Consideration and training of resilience with regard to psychosocial factors in the context of climate change
   

Specific recommendations were made for the European Commission, member states, companies, social partners, as well as general recommendations.

Significance for the German Social Insurance

The statements emphasize that climate change is increasingly affecting occupational accidents, occupational diseases, and rehabilitation needs. Prevention, occupational health care, and workplace risk assessment are therefore becoming even more important. This development is relevant for social security institutions, as increasing burdens can also have long-term effects on benefit costs and prevention strategies.

The ACSH recommends that the European Commission include the proposals in the next EU occupational health and safety framework and further develop protection standards across Europe. Due to the high relevance of the issue, climate change should be further anchored strategically. The topic is already included in the Strategic Framework for Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027, but awareness of the problem and the direct effects of climate change on the safety and health of workers has been additionally recognized and highlighted in the recommendations.