Klimawandel: Spitzenverband DGUV: Hitze sorgt für mehr Unfälle
Schätzungen zufolge gehen in Deutschland Dutzende Millionen Arbeitsstunden durch Hitze verloren. Außerdem erhöht sie das Unfallrisiko.
The German Industry Safety Board (DGUV) has warned that heat is increasing the risk of accidents. Stephan Fasshauer, the chief executive of DGUV, pointed out that the frequency and intensity of heat have changed over the years. He explained that the number of hot days with at least 30 degrees Celsius has tripled in Germany since the 1950s.
Fasshauer noted that there are about eight percent more workplace accidents when temperatures reach 30 degrees compared to the range of 10 to 15 degrees. In road traffic, the risk of accidents increases by roughly 17 percent at 30 degrees as opposed to the 10 to 15 degree range. He emphasized that loss of concentration due to heat can have severe consequences for individuals working on scaffolding, operating machinery, or driving.
Fasshauer added that heat can also lead to equipment failures. According to his estimates, around 37 million work hours were lost due to heat in Germany in 2023. Prevention, maintaining performance, and keeping people healthy can help avoid such failures. DGUV cites data from the annual "Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change" report by the medical journal "The Lancet". The most recent data available cover 2023.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
