Heat Stress Endangers 130 Million European Workers, ETUI Report Warns

A report from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) released on 25 June 2026 estimates that about 130 million workers across the EU face hazardous heat at work. The analysis links heat stress to roughly 277 000 occupational injuries and 230 deaths each year. An EU-OSHA 2025 survey found one in five employees reported extreme-heat exposure in the past year.

EuronewsEuropean Trade Union Institute warns heat stress threatens 130 million workers across Europe

Europe is breaking temperature records, a trend the ETUI attributes to accelerating climate change. While southern Europe traditionally records the most heat-related incidents, the report notes the sharpest recent rise in workplace accidents in central and northern regions. The authors stress that heatwaves are measurable, predictable events that can be prevented with proper policy.

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The report cites 16 °C as the optimal working temperature; each additional degree reduces average productivity by about 2 %. During a typical heatwave, productivity losses reach 20-25 % in southern Europe, 8-14 % in central Europe, and 3-6 % in Scandinavia. These losses compound health risks and generate sizable economic costs for firms and national economies.

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ETUI researchers call for EU legislation that obliges employers to conduct mandatory heat-risk assessments, identifying temperature, humidity and wind-speed factors. The report also recommends a broader heat-stress index rather than relying solely on temperature thresholds. Marouane Laabbas-el-Guennouni stresses that knowing specific risks is essential for effective worker protection.

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The authors highlight the lack of dedicated EU rules on occupational heat exposure, describing existing safety standards as inadequate for the changing climate. By proposing mandatory assessments and a comprehensive index, the report implicitly criticises the regulatory gap and urges policymakers to act before heat-related injuries increase further.

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• “The problem is the worst in the south, of course; that's where we see most of the accidents. At the same time, though, we have been recording the highest increases in accidents in central and northern Europe.” — Andreas Flouris, Professor of Physiology, University of Thessaly

European Trade Union Institute warns heat stress threatens 130 million workers across Europe

• “The optimum temperature to work at is 16 °C. Beyond that, for every 1 °C rise, there is an average productivity loss of around 2 %.” — Andreas Flouris

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• “What we propose is a mandatory heat risk assessment, in order to oblige employers to assess and identify the risks related to heat exposure in their workplace.” — Marouane Laabbas-el-Guennouni, ETUI researcher

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• “Heatwaves are a measurable, predictable, and therefore preventable phenomenon.” — ETUI report authors

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The authors call for EU legislators to adopt mandatory heat-risk-assessment rules, arguing that the predictability of heatwaves makes preventive action feasible and can reduce injuries and productivity losses.

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