About 358,000 employees in the Netherlands work in excessively warm conditions and experience “heat stress.” This amounts to approximately 4 percent of the working population, according to research organization TNO. Cooks, police officers, bakers, and welders are the largest occupational groups that suffer from heat complaints.
“They often work in warm environments, wear protective clothing, or perform heavy work. As a result, their bodies have difficulty dissipating heat,” the researchers say. The 358,000 employees are exposed to heat stress for more than eighty hours each year – equivalent to two full-time work weeks.
Heat stress occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. It leads to complaints such as fatigue, concentration problems, fainting, and heat stroke. TNO points out that heat stress can also cause heart, kidney, or lung problems in the long term.
The researchers cite heat sources such as ovens, gas stoves, and machines as the main cause of heat stress. In as many as 84 percent of employees with heat stress, these heat sources are the culprit. Weather conditions are in second place.
Worldwide, heat stress leads to 23 million accidents and 19,000 deaths annually, according to the International Labour Organization. The consequences of heat at work in the Netherlands are still unknown.
TNO states that heat complaints can largely be prevented by providing more ventilation or shade, or by working more during cooler hours. Allowing light clothing in the workplace can also help.