Heat Kills 2,500 as Germany Broadens Workplace Safety Focus to Blackouts, Asbestos, and Body-Powered Cooling

New figures from the Robert Koch Institute put the number of heat-related deaths in Germany at roughly 2,500 in 2025. That stark statistic is reshaping how authorities and companies approach occupational health, extending far beyond traditional accident prevention. A two-day conference now underway in Bad Dürkheim reflects the shift, placing extreme-weather health protection alongside classic safety topics like risk management during widespread power outages and the psychology behind safe behaviour — a concept known as Behavior Based Safety (BBS).

The federal push on heat protection gained further momentum on Wednesday when the World Health Organization released a new guideline on the subject. Simultaneously, the 15th Symposium for Occupational Health Management (BGM) convened at Saarbrücken Airport under the banner “Fit for the Future.” There, experts debated artificial intelligence in the workplace and strategies for stretched budgets. Saarland State Secretary Bettina Altesleben used the opening ceremony to stress the need for fresh approaches.

From heat-stress planning to hazardous-substance documentation, the breadth of workplace safety demands is expanding. A free Health & Safety Toolkit gives you ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists and toolbox talks that cover key UK regulations — helping you stay compliant without starting from scratch. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

One of the most concrete safety investments comes from BASF. The chemical giant is building a new five-storey emergency response centre on Brunckstraße in Ludwigshafen. The facility will stretch 200 metres in length and reach up to 27 metres in height. When completed, scheduled for early 2028, the complex will house 19 large and special vehicles, an integrated control centre, and a crisis management unit. BASF puts the investment in the low triple-digit million-euro range.

Unpredictable hazards also keep safety teams on alert. In early February, workers renovating Duisburg Central Station discovered asbestos in the roof of the train shed. Deutsche Bahn assured passengers there was no danger. Renovation of the affected platform continues under special protective measures, and that section of the project is due for completion by February 2027.

Innovation is coming from the textile sector too. The German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) are developing a climate-control system for protective clothing under the project name “StAirS.” It uses the wearer’s own movement—for instance via compressible insoles—to generate compressed air for cooling.

Looking ahead, the FeuerTrutz trade fair in Nuremberg at the end of June will showcase new fire-safety solutions, including mobile powder extinguishers and special fire-protection trays. In mid-June, expert webinars will address practical implementation of the NIS-2 cybersecurity directive, with particular emphasis on risk management and reporting procedures.

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