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Heat portal of Bielefeld University

Campus of Bielefeld University
Bielefeld University

Information for managers

Managers play a central role in heat protection in the workplace. They should promote a culture of mindfulness and implement measures to protect employees from heat hazards.

Principles for managers:

  • Recognise heat hazards: Heat protection must be recognised as a serious health hazard and understood as a management task.
  • Risk assessment: Consideration of heat in the risk assessment is essential in order to identify specific risks and initiate measures. Risk assessments must be carried out by managers.
  • Ensure the flow of information: Inform and instruct employees on the subject of heat protection.

An important prerequisite for safe and healthy working is knowing which protective and emergency measures must be observed. Instructions serve to impart knowledge about these protective and emergency measures and to provide instructions and explanations. Instructions are instructions that must be followed. Managers are responsible for regularly instructing their employees.

Hot days with temperatures above 30 °C and tropical nights in which it does not cool down below 20 °C can place considerable strain on the human body and jeopardise physical and mental health.

Dehydration, aggravation of various illnesses, heat cramps, sunstroke and heat stroke can be the result. Serious warning signs of the body are Circulatory problems, muscle cramps in the arms and legs, abdominal cramps, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, a feeling of exhaustion or restlessness, confusion and a dry mouth (1).

The health risks of heat basically affect everyone. Nevertheless, some groups of people are particularly affected on hot days due to certain risk factors and suffer more severe health consequences as a result of the heat (2).

This applies in particular to (chronically) ill people, people with disabilities, older people, pregnant women, children and adolescents, as well as people with work-related risks. Various groups of medicines can also develop dangerous side effects in the heat or have a negative effect on the body's temperature regulation.

Depending on the temperature and duration of exposure to heat, the reactions of the human organism range from mild heat exhaustion or sleep disorders to serious health consequences and organ damage and even heat-related deaths.

Spectrum of the consequences of heat on human health (3):

  • Heat stress: feelings of strain such as exhaustion, sleep disturbances due to heat exposure or feelings of impairment during physical exertion or work.
  • Heat cramps: Muscular cramps during physical exertion in the heat.
  • Overheating: Mild to moderately severe exertion due to loss of water and/or salt (dehydration) during heat exposure or heavy physical labour. Symptoms include in particular: Body temperature of 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, weakness, low blood pressure, vomiting, headache and confusion.
  • Heat syncope: Fainting at high ambient temperatures due to vasodilation.
  • Heat stroke: If the body can no longer cool down through measures such as sweating, heat build-up occurs. The body temperature then quickly rises to 40 degrees Celsius and the brain swells - to the point of cerebral oedema, the so-called "heat stroke".
  • Exsiccosis (dehydration): With heavy sweating and insufficient fluid intake, the body suffers from a lack of water and dries out. A feeling of thirst, dry skin and mucous membranes, reduced skin turgor (standing skin folds), tachycardia (with symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath or heavy sweating) and hypotension (low blood pressure) are common consequences.
  • Hyperthermia: Increase in body temperature when thermoregulation is disturbed by illness, medication or excessive external or internal heat supply or production. Hyperthermia can take on harmful or life-threatening forms.

In addition to physical health risks, heat can have a negative impact on mental health and reduce the ability to work. Heat as an exogenous stressor can exacerbate symptoms of existing mental illnesses or cause new ones to appear. In addition, sleep disorders caused by heat exposure can also have a negative impact on mental health, regardless of pre-existing conditions. On hot days, heat stress can also lead to reduced alertness and performance as well as increased potential for aggression and exhaustion

Sources:

Some groups of people may be particularly affected on hot days due to certain risk factors and suffer more severe health consequences from the heat. These include people with disabilities or (chronic) illnesses, older people, pregnant women, children and adolescents, as well as people with work-related risks.

High temperatures and heatwaves can therefore trigger heat-related illnesses, aggravate pre-existing conditions and also lead to premature deaths. Various groups of medicines can also develop dangerous side effects in the heat or have a negative impact on the body's temperature regulation.

Further information on the heat-vulnerable groups of people

If you have any questions on the subject of"Heat protection and occupational medicine", please contact the University Medical Service at Bielefeld University at the functional address: betriebsmedizin@uni-bielefeld.de.

The technical rule for workplaces A3.5 Room temperature is divided into four temperature thresholds that trigger a need for action in order to assess and minimise the risk of summer heat. Depending on the threshold value, suitable protective measures must be taken by managers.

Temperature range in the work area (ASR 3.5):

  • Up to +26 °C (low risk): Normal operation, no mandatory measures if this value is exceeded as long as the outside temperature is lower or the same.
  • Above +26 °C (moderate hazard): Target value exceeded. The specifications of the measures in ASR 3.5 point 4.4 (Table 4) must be implemented as far as possible. The specifications may be mandatory for persons who are able to tolerate heat.
  • Above +30 °C (increased risk): Must value exceeded. Effective protective measures must be taken in accordance with ASR 3.5 point 4.4 (Tab. 4).
  • Above +35 °C (high/immediate hazard): Maximum value exceeded. The room is considered unsuitable for work; rooms with a room temperature of more than +35 °C must not be used. Work is only permitted under very specific, technical or organisational heat protection measures (e.g. cooling phases in cooler areas, special clothing).

Further information from the DGUV:

Alarm signals of an acute heat illness can be, for example

  • Cold and clammy skin,
  • low blood pressure and rapid pulse,
  • rapid but weak breathing,
  • nausea,
  • dizziness and/or
  • vomiting.

If you notice one or more of the above symptoms in yourself or others, you should react immediately. If you suspect a medical emergency, report it:

  • via the university landline: 112
  • from your mobile phone: 0521-106-112
  • via the EvAlarm app of Bielefeld University

Further information:

A special guide with tips and advice on summer heat and heat protection has been created for Bielefeld University employees:

You can find support under the following contacts:

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