30 degrees in the office, street work in the midday heat: What rights do employees have in the heat? The occupational physician Anette Wahl-Wachendorf clarifies.
How do employees get through the summer in high temperatures? Anette Wahl-Wachendorf is a doctor specializing in occupational medicine in Berlin and Frankfurt. It gives tips on what employees should consider and explains what employers are obliged to do.
t-online: Parents used to let their children play on the beach in the midday heat, nobody asked for sun protection on the construction site. Has everyone understood how dangerous UV rays are?
Anette Wahl-Wachendorf: From a company medical point of view, it has reached large parts of the population. This applies both to families on a beach holiday and to occupational safety. Headgear is now worn on construction sites and people hardly work shirtless any more. But of course there are both employees and employers who do not yet pay enough attention to the topic.
This is mainly due to the fact that the damage caused by the sun is often not noticeable and visible the very next day. Skin cancer is similar to high blood pressure. Prevention is all the more important.
Do you anticipate an increase in skin cancer among the boomer generation because there was no awareness of the dangers of UV radiation?
Yes. On the one hand, purely for statistical reasons: these are the generations with the highest birth rates, so on average skin cancer or its precursors will also occur more frequently in these years. On the other hand, for the reasons mentioned, that awareness was not very well developed in the 1960s and 1970s.
The occupational physician Anette Wahl-Wachendorf (Source: GUIDO KOLLMEIER)
The occupational physician
Anette Wahl-Wachendorf is a doctor specializing in occupational medicine. Since 2019 she has been medical director of the occupational health and safety service of the trade association for the construction industry and since 2011 vice president of the Association of German Company and Company Physicians.
Should we go for skin cancer screening more often in view of climate change?
You can’t say that in general, because it depends on the individual: on the skin type and the activity that you do. Someone with lighter skin is more at risk than someone with a darker complexion. Those who work in construction have a higher risk than office workers. Taking certain medications can also pose a higher risk. During examinations, company doctors pay attention to whether someone already has skin changes outside of the classic summer months and then arrange for close monitoring.
We are experiencing another heat wave. How does this affect work performance?
There is ample evidence that productivity suffers from heat. Employers should therefore have a great interest in setting up workplaces in such a way that their employees have optimal protection even in the heat, for example by providing drinks or allowing breaks during the particularly hot lunchtime.
What are employers obliged to do?
The Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance stipulates that the employer must carry out a risk assessment in the event of changes to the workplace and then take appropriate measures. For example, if someone has to work at 30 degrees or more for a long period of time, the employer must document what they are doing about it.
What can I do if my employer doesn’t care?
I would always recommend speaking to the boss first. You can ask for a risk assessment and what countermeasures are planned. You can also make your own suggestions on how to remedy the situation. My experience is that most employers are open to it. You can also get support from the works council and the company doctor.
What do you recommend against the heat?
Dress codes should be relaxed when it is too hot, so that airy clothing can be worn instead of tight. In addition, employees should drink a lot. Namely water, no sweetened drinks. Heavy, greasy food should be avoided as it puts additional strain on the body. Because offices cannot all be optimized against heat in a hurry, a wet washcloth can help temporarily as a cooling agent. Some also use cooling vests. And keep taking breaks.
They are specifically responsible for the construction. What do employees have to consider who cannot completely avoid the sun during their work?
Critical work should be relocated at times with as little sun as possible. That happens a lot too. The break times should be spent in the shade, for example by setting up shading options. You should also drink a lot here. Sometimes this is not done because the toilet is further away, for example on construction sites. But you shouldn’t do that. It is also very important not to work shirtless and to wear a hat.
