Extraordinary heatwaves are currently overwhelming Europe. Now, health officials are sounding the alarm on the dangers extreme temperatures have on schools and workplace environments. Rüdiger Krech, a public health expert with the World Health Organization, advises moving lessons to indoor swimming pools if temperatures go extremely high. This recommendation comes at a critical moment, as Switzerland experiences temperatures above 30°C with students returning to school.
In conjunction with the rising temperatures, Suva, a Swiss accident insurance provider, has reported that heat stress significantly impacts workers’ health and productivity. Increased heat stress is already causing similar concentration disabilities and sleep loss. These factors add a serious drag on performance, particularly in vital industries such as construction and agriculture.
When experiencing extreme heat, Swiss schools would previously announce early dismissals. This practice was routine from the 1970s through the 1990s any time temperatures reached the critical limit of 30°C. Germany has a Hitzefrei policy, where if temperatures get too high, schools can close. This summer, the UK’s Met Office is predicting record-breaking heat. It might just end up being the second or third hottest recorded since 1884!
Even construction activities in Switzerland were ordered to stop during the recent heatwave. Areas such as Geneva and Ticino stopped construction to ensure safety. Closing the session, Unia’s Nico Lutz emphasized the increasing threats from heatwaves to workers’ health in these harsh work climates.
This summer we are seeing the shocking consequences of this temporary trend, as countries all over Europe are struggling with unprecedented temperatures of 40°C+. Krech emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating, “It is not just discomfort. It is a real health risk.” He went on to expound upon the long-term impacts of extended exposure to extreme heat. He cautioned that when body temperatures remain above 38°C for long durations, workers are in danger of severe heat-related illnesses, including stroke and dehydration.
Krech further elaborated that higher temperatures have a direct, negative relationship with productivity. For each degree above 20°C, productivity can decrease by 2%. He insisted that it is not enough for companies to be held accountable for the safety of their workers. He argued that working in very high heat is just reckless. “That’s why we need the building companies to take responsibility,” he said. “It’s too hot to work, and we all accept that the work just takes a little longer.”
Dagmar Rösler, president of the Swiss teachers’ association, has led the fight against these challenges. She argues that infrastructure in schools needs to be repaired, with ventilation systems fixed and air conditioning installed. She highlighted the importance of making sure that spaces where kids learn aren’t criminalized. “I just want people to remember that this is about making sure our children can learn in an environment that is comfortable for them,” she stated.
As Rösler recognized, not every class is possible in a swimming pool. She said schools need to retrofit buildings to accommodate increasing heat levels. Further, she called on state education leaders to be forward-looking.
Speaking on the wider costs of heatwaves, Krech called on governments, businesses and all stakeholders to re-evaluate their spending on climate resilience plans. “Just to think, I don’t have the money for all these changes. Well, think twice,” he cautioned. “Because if you need to stop producing… then think about the productivity losses that you have.”
Like American states, European nations are grappling with record high temperatures and decisions that can’t wait. They need to weigh short-term spending against long-term public health risks and economic consequences. On the Italian government’s part, such measures have already begun, with an emergency decree signed to ban outdoor work during peak heat hours.