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Silhouette of a person with a water bottle in summer weather

Heat stress in the workplace—recognizing risks, taking action

What can I do myself to make my working day healthy and heat-free?
Silhouette of a person with a water bottle in summer weather
Image: Angelina Galinger/Universit?t Jena
This page has been machine translated.
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Heat stress in Jena

With rising temperatures and more frequent hot days due to climate change, the burden of heat is also increasing in Jena: the location in the Saale valley further intensifies the so-called heat island effect, so that temperatures in the city are sometimes significantly higher than in the surrounding area. Jena is therefore one of the warmest cities in Germany.

The city of Jena is meeting these challenges with a climate adaptation strategy and a heat action plan. The heat action plan was adopted by the city council in May 2025 and includes measures such as the greening of urban areas, climate adaptation in daycare centres and schools, drinking fountains, the creation of green climate oases and structural changes. For example, a climate-friendly redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz is planned. The heat action plan therefore also has a direct impact on the University.

More information:
Heat action plan of the city of JenaExternal link
Jena Climate Adaptation Strategy JenKASExternal link

Climate change and effects on health

Heat stress is the greatest climate change-related health risk and affects not only outdoor work, but also office and home office activities. Climate change and increasingly hot days not only lead to higher temperatures, but also to indirect consequences such as poorer air quality, more allergens and problems with food hygiene.

The heat stress on the body depends not only on the air temperature, but also on other climatic variables such as humidity and solar radiation.

But how does our body react to prolonged heat? Below you will find some information on the health effects of heat on the human body:

  • Health consequences of heat

    Typical consequences are dilated blood vessels, increased heart rate and loss of water and electrolytes through sweating.

    In extreme cases, sweating can stop, which can lead to serious health problems such as exhaustion, cardiovascular stress, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

    Sleep, appetite, mood and performance also suffer from the heat.

  • Acute heat illnesses

    Sunstroke

    • Symptoms: dizziness, nausea, headache, flickering scotoma, cramps, possibly stiff neck and meningismus
    • Therapy: Position in a cool environment, damp cloths on head and neck, circulatory control, emergency doctor (cerebral oedema prophylaxis!)

    Heat cramps

    • Symptoms: pale and clammy skin, severe headache, irritability/restlessness, fatigue, confusion, muscle cramps
    • Therapy: drink fluids high in sodium chloride, call an ambulance if necessary

    Heat exhaustion

    • Symptoms: dizziness, nausea, fainting
    • Therapy: Position in a cool environment, elevate legs, monitor circulation, rehydrate

    Dehydration

    • Symptoms: depending on severity, thirst, tiredness, nausea, weakness, restricted movement, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, inability to walk, cramps, delirium
    • Therapy: fluid intake, volume replacement, electrolyte replacement, circulatory control

    Heat exhaustion, heat stroke

    • Symptoms: dizziness, nausea, fainting
    • Therapy: Position in a cool environment, legs elevated, circulatory control, rehydration

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    Please note: This information is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute professional medical advice or professional treatment recommendations. It is not intended for self-diagnosis nor is it a substitute for a diagnosis by a medical professional.

  • Particularly vulnerable groups

    People with pre-existing conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, lung disease), older people, pregnant people, children and certain occupational groups are?particularly at risk. Socio-economic aspects also play a role.

    People who regularly take medication should pay more attention to the side effects during a heatwave: For example, there are drugs that reduce sweating or the feeling of thirst.

  • Some statistics
    • Heatstroke, sunstroke and other damage caused by heat or sunlight led to an average of almost 1,500 hospitalizations per year in Germany between 2001 and 2021.?(SourceExternal link)
    • According to calculations by the Robert Koch Institute, the number of heat-related deaths in Germany in 2024 was around 3,000?(sourceExternal link).
    • The DAK Health Report 2024 found that 12.5 per cent of the male employees surveyed in Germany in 2023 had experienced health problems in the heat. The figure for women was 27 per cent.?(SourceExternal link)
    • Around 70 per cent of working women who were surveyed as part of the DAK Health Report 2024 and who had experienced health problems in the heat stated that they suffered from circulatory problems. Among men, the figure was around 55 per cent. Other frequently cited complaints included fatigue (70 per cent of women, 66 per cent of men), sleep problems (69 per cent of women, 66 per cent of men) and increased sweating (61 per cent of women, 72 per cent of men). (SourceExternal link).

Protective measures and practical strategies for dealing with heat

The STOP principle

S—Substitution:

  • ?Separate heat and work as much as possible?
  • Bring the start of work forward, longer lunch breaks, shorter working hours

T—Technical measures:

  • For example, insulation, air conditioning, UV protection tents, fans, sun protection systems such as sun protection films or interior blinds

O—Organisation:

  • Adapt work to temperatures, additional breaks and drinking times, create cooling oases, use warning systems, train first aiders, targeted ventilation, alternate home office in multi-person offices, reduce internal thermal loads, switch off electrical devices that are not required

P—Personal measures:

  • On the employer side: Instruction and occupational health care, personal protective equipment
  • On the employee side: use of personal protective equipment (e.g. light clothing, headgear, water containers for cooling feet and hands), health-conscious behaviour

With these measures, employers and employees can work together to effectively reduce heat stress in the workplace.

What can I do to protect myself from heat stress?

  • Make sure you drink enough fluids: Drink at least 3 litres a day, 5 litres or more if you are doing heavy physical work. Incidentally, the colour of your urine is a good indicator of whether you are drinking enough water.
  • Optimize your work clothing: appropriately light-coloured, loose, lightweight, permeable to water vapour, headgear/headscarves and neckerchiefs
  • Create ?cooling oases?: Use buckets, bowls or other containers, fill them with cold water to cool your hands, forearms or feet.
  • Stay informed: Pay attention to weather forecasts and local warnings, e.g. from the German Weather Service.
  • Assess the risk.
  • Arrange extra break and/or drinking times.
  • Re-organize your working days.
  • Train first aid measures for heat-related illnesses.
  • Look out for each other: Look out for possible signs of heat-related illness in yourself and your colleagues.
  • Ask your company doctors for advice.

More information
Heat etiquette—tips for correct behaviour in hot weather (tender of the Federal Environment Agency)External link
Heat warning system of the German Weather ServiceExternal link
First aid cards for acute heat-related illnessesExternal link

Heat and occupational safety

Obligations of the employer

On the basis of the Occupational Health and Safety ActExternal link and the Workplace OrdinanceExternal link, the employer must in principle...

  • assess the working conditions (?risk assessment?) and in particular include particularly vulnerable employees, such as pregnant persons, young people, the elderly or persons with known pre-existing conditions,
  • define and implement?protective and emergency measures and regularly review their effectiveness,
  • regularly instruct employees: The topic of temperature in the workplace must also be considered here.

Workplace rule ASR A3.5 Room temperature

The workplace rule ASR A3.5External link Room temperature applies to work, break, standby, sanitary, canteen and first aid rooms that do not have any specific operational requirements in terms of room climate.

The following generally applies:

  • Air temperature in the work area between 26-30°C: If the outside air temperature is above 26°C and suitable sun protection is already in use, the employer should take measures in accordance with ASR A3.5.
  • Air temperature in the work area between 30-35°C: The employer must take effective measures in accordance with ASR A3.5. Technical and organisational measures are to be given preference over personal measures.
  • Air temperature in the work area above 35°C: The room is not suitable as a workroom for the time the temperature is exceeded without appropriate measures.

There is no legal entitlement to have time off due to high temperatures.

Selected offers of the University as an employer

Further information
Climate change and occupational health and safety: Information from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)External link
Competence centre for climate change and occupational health and safetyExternal link
German Alliance for Climate Protection and HealthExternal link

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Contact persons and contact points at the University

Information

This information page is based on the event ?Summer, sun, heat-free? Heat stress in the workplace. Workshop for employees? on 6 May 2025. The event was part of the 1st Sustainability Week, which was organised by the university's Green Office together with partners.