Heat Stress Warnings Intensify as Germany Eases Safety Representative Rules
26.06.2026 - 14:45:58 | boerse-global.de
A rule change quietly took effect on May 29, 2026, raising the mandatory threshold for appointing workplace safety representatives from 20 to 50 employees. The amendment to Paragraph 22 of Book Seven of the Social Code is designed to cut red tape for small and medium-sized enterprises. Yet experts caution that the relaxation does not mean smaller firms can ignore hazards. The risk assessment remains the decisive tool, and companies with fewer than 50 workers may still need to name a safety representative if specific dangers exist.
On the very same day that the new threshold went into force, the IG Metall union warned about using fans in open-plan offices during summer heat. Their June 19 statement flagged risks of draughts and stirred-up dust and pollen that can aggravate allergy sufferers. The union recommended structural fixes such as blinds and night-time cooling instead. Three days later, the BAU-HOLZ trade union demanded that heat protection become a mandatory award criterion for public contracts, noting that a recent amendment to the Federal Procurement Law already allows it.
Heat management strategies are becoming urgent as temperatures climb. Occupational health expert Alexander Gimbel advises an adapted drinking culture, light meals, and organisational tweaks like early-morning ventilation or flexible working hours. The construction sector is especially vocal: without binding heat standards, workers face rising health risks on sites across the country.
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Meanwhile, a new analysis from North Rhine-Westphalia exposes stark disparities in sick leave. In 2022, the absenteeism rate for collectively bargained employees stood at 8.33 percent, compared with only 6.75 percent for civil servants. Nationally, contracted workers missed an average of 23.97 days, while civil servants were absent 21.63 days. The data underscore the need for innovative solutions.
One such solution was recognised on June 18 at the University of Witten/Herdecke, where the Wittener Prize for Health Visionaries was awarded. ShoeCommerce won for a 3D foot measurement system, and DermaPurge was also honoured. Industry is meanwhile testing passive exoskeletons for photovoltaic panel assembly that combine back relief with fall protection.
Training and prevention efforts continue to expand. On July 8, 2026, the IST University of Management is hosting a webinar on systematic occupational health management processes. Professor Dr. Martin Lange will teach the PDCA cycle for setting strategic and operational goals. The German Society for Gastroenterology (DGVS) is calling for more prevention research, pointing to the Excellence Cluster ImmunoPreCept, which investigates why some people stay healthy despite risk factors—with the aim of developing new protective mechanisms for the broader population.
Starting in the 2026/2027 school year, a digital programme called "KlimaChecker" will roll out to raise early awareness of the links between climate change and health. The BGHM, the employer’s liability insurance association for wood and metal, is also supporting smaller firms: it is offering a basic seminar on safety representatives in Saarbrücken on July 1, 2026, with additional dates scheduled for the second half of the year. The session targets business owners with up to 50 employees—exactly those now exempt from the mandatory appointment, but still responsible for ensuring a safe workplace.
