IG-I-1: Heat-related decrease in efficiency | Umweltbundesamt

IG-I-1: Heat-related decrease in efficiency

Global warming may in future increase exposure to summer heat at the workplace, both indoors and outdoors. More than 40 % of respondents to the environmental awareness study expect that heat will in future either strongly or very strongly affect their efficiency at the workplace. The industrial safety legislation requires that measures be taken in order to safeguard an indoor climate in work spaces that is beneficial to health.

Impacts of high temperatures on efficiency

Rising temperatures and increasing absolute air humidity impact strongly on the health and efficiency of workers. The effects arising are not limited to increased morbidity: diminished concentration is an effect that can make them more prone to making mistakes or having accidents thus also affecting efficiency.¹⁷⁹ Extreme heatwaves entail additional health risks: When external temperatures rise beyond the humanly tolerable setpoint temperature of 37 °C, the body can only retain its core temperature – thus remaining in a healthy state – by means of perspiration. High air humidity and any necessary work clothing can restrict the evaporation of sweat thus also restricting the body’s ability to control its temperature. This can result in severe dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunstroke or heat collapse. Likewise, an increase in body temperature to a life-threatening extent beyond 40 C is conceivable under adverse conditions which can lead to a life-threatening heat stroke.¹⁸⁰

In respect of indoor workplaces many studies showed a significant link between efficiency and the so-called thermal comfort zone. If room temperatures depart from this optimum either downwards or upwards, efficiency will decrease. The climate of a room is termed thermally comfortable when a human being perceives air temperature, air humidity, air circulation and heat radiation in their immediate environment as optimal and they do not wish for the air in the room either to be warmer, colder, drier or more humid. For the summer months, temperatures between 23 °C and 26 °C are considered comfortable for employees in light and sedentary occupations. Measures to provide heat protection in summer (for instance shading or air conditioning by means of energy-efficient regenerative cooling technologies in indoor work spaces can help to keep temperatures within this range and to maintain a climate-friendly condition.

In Germany there are approximately 2 to 3 million people who work predominantly or at least some of the time outdoors. They are exposed to the prevailing weather conditions and weather patterns all year round. Increased stress from heat exposure, natural UV radiation and other climatic changes clearly affect these people more directly than people who work indoors. These outdoor activities contribute approximately 10 to 15 % of value added to the national economy – primarily in the sectors of agriculture, forestry, construction and in some segments of the industrial and services sectors.

A comparison of the findings from the studies entitled ‘Environmental awareness in Germany’ covering the period from 2012 to 2021 shows that since 2014 a consistently high proportion of more than 40 % of respondents expect that their efficiency at their workplace will be strongly or very strongly affected by rising heat stress in future. In 2021 this proportion amounted to 44 %.¹⁸¹ In 2012 just a quarter of respondents expected such heat-related impacts on their efficiency at their workplace.

An employee’s thermal comfort influences their working capacity thus exerting a direct influence on a company’s productivity and thus ultimately on the productivity of the entire national economy. Studies have inferred that times of high heat stress in Central Europe are the consequence, among other factors, of reduced concentration and resulting mistakes as well as greater frequency and severity of accidents at work causing associated productivity losses up to 12 % and that the extent of expected losses are at least in part due to the intensity of heat stress.¹⁸² On the basis of these assumptions, it was estimated that the impacts on labour productivity in 2018 and 2019 were due to summer heatwaves. Given the number of hot days recorded and with due consideration of differing possibilities for adaptation in different industries, the direct damage attributable to heat-related production losses in those two years was estimated to total 5 billion Euros. In addition, the estimate also included indirect damage, for example, caused by missing, delayed or poor-quality preliminary work in a value of 3.5 to 5.3 billion Euros thus resulting in overall damage for the two years in the range of 8.5 to 10.3 billion Euros.¹⁸³ However, these estimates are subject to considerable uncertainties. In fact, some studies suggest, for instance in the construction sector, that productivity might even rise, as climate change increases the length of periods available in the course of a year.¹⁸⁴ In sum, there is no clear picture emerging with regard to climate change impacts on productivity and economic efficiency.

The relevant workplace regulations stipulate various requirements to be met in order to maintain employees’ good health and thus their efficiency while working indoors even while external air temperatures might be in excess of 26 °C. Whenever the indoor air temperature in work spaces exceeds a threshold of 26 °C or 30 °C, it is essential, if not mandatory, to take appropriate measures. Companies can, for example, ensure that suitable sunshading is installed and is used to best advantage, that the premises are adequately aired in the early mornings, interior heat loads are reduced, working hours are shifted and refreshing drinks are made available. It may also be appropriate to relax any existing dress codes. In this case, priority should be given to taking technical measures such as using fans, as well as organisational measures such as breaks in cooler rooms rather than taking person-related measures. At temperatures in excess of 35 °C, the work space is no longer suitable, unless measures are taken with regard to work in typically hot environments.¹⁸⁵

Similarly, for working outdoors, industrial safety legislation also requires that measures be taken to protect employees from adverse impacts on their health caused by heat. For example, on building sites employers can give instruction for shading or ventilation units to be installed in order to provide adequate working conditions. Above all, employers can take organisational measures by adapting working hours to the prevailing weather patterns, by arranging for sufficiently long breaks, making sure there is an adequate supply of refreshing drinks available, and ensuring that employees, as part of their training, are made aware of potential hazards and any appropriate countermeasures they can take for their own protection.

^{179 - Trenczek J., Eiserbeck L., Lühr O., Sandhövel M., Ibens D. 2022: Schäden der Dürre- und Hitzeextreme 2018 und 2019. Eine ex-post-Analyse. Prognos AG. 71 pp. https://www.prognos.com/sites/default/files/2022-07/Prognos_KlimawandelfolgenDeutschland_Detailuntersuchung%20Hitzesommer%2018_19_AP2_3a_.pdf}

^{180 - Glitz K. J., Bux K., Catrein B., Dietl P., Engelmann B., Gebhardt H., Groos S., Kampmann B., Kluth K., Leyk D., Zander P., Klußmann A. 2022: AWMF-S2k-Leitlinie Arbeiten unter klimatischen Belastungen. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin e.V. (Hg.). Version 1, 94 pp. https://www.awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/ll/002-045.html}

^{181 - infas – Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH 2022: Tabellenband – Zusatzbefragung im Rahmen der Umweltbewusstseinsstudie 2020. Themenbereich: Klimaanpassung. Bonn, 39 pp. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/2378/dokumente/tabellenband_ubs_zusatzbefragung_sept_2021_klimaanpassung.pdf}

^{182 - Trenczek et al. 2022, cf. endnote no. 179}

^{183 - Trenczek et al. 2022, cf. endnote no. 179}

^{184 - Urban H., Steininger K.W. 2015: Manufacturing and Trade: Labour Productivity Losses. In: Steininger K., König M., Bednar-Friedl B., Loibl W., Kranzl L., Prettenthaler F., Haas W., Formayer H., Goetzl M., Zulka K. 2015: Economic Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts – Development of a Cross-Sectoral Framework and Results for Austria. Basel: 301–322. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-12457-5}

^{185 - Technische Regel für Arbeitsstätten – ASR A3.5 Raumtemperatur, Ausgabe: Juni 2010 (GMBl 2010, p. 751, zuletzt geändert GMBl 2022, p. 198). https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Rechtstexte-und-Technische-Regeln/Regelwerk/ASR/ASR-A3-5.html}