Heat wave in Königs Wusterhausen: This is how traders and construction workers fight!

Heat wave in Königs Wusterhausen: This is how traders and construction workers fight!

In Königs Wusterhausen, where temperatures reach up to 34 degrees today, there is a lot of activity at the weekly market on Tuesday morning. Market trader Sabine Noack reports that her customers bring cooler bags to keep their purchases cool. Their sales cart temperature is already over 28 degrees, which poses a challenge for the range. Particularly sensitive goods such as meat are cooled at 0 to 3 degrees to maintain freshness, but the cooling units radiate additional heat, which occasionally leads to icing. Despite the oppressive heat, Noack closes her stand at half past midnight because sales decline in this heat and older customers often stay at home.

The working day is similarly challenging for construction workers in the region, especially at the construction site at the railway tunnel on Storkower Straße. Foreman Ronny Arndt coordinates the work and ensures that the employees take regular breaks in the shade. Here temperatures reach over 27 degrees. Stephan Wilhelm, who carries out a traffic survey, makes it a point to avoid working during the hottest part of the day.

Heat wave and health

The extreme heat not only represents a problem for the market and construction sites, but is also perceived in Germany as an increasing challenge due to climate change. In the period from 2002 to 2022, there were around 1,500 heat-related hospital treatments annually, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. Older people, people with previous illnesses and construction workers who work outdoors are particularly at risk. Heat strokes can quickly become dangerous here, and symptoms such as nausea, headaches and exhaustion must be taken seriously. Employees must ensure adequate fluid intake and work routines with breaks, such as 123erfasst.de determines.

In addition, an analysis by the Robert Koch Institute shows that average temperatures in the last ten years have been around 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. Eight of the ten hottest summers since 1881 have occurred in the last 30 years. Heat also exacerbates existing illnesses and can cause serious side effects with many medications. Fortunately, there are more heat warnings from the German Weather Service and recommendations for heat action plans, but there is still a significant need for action to meet the challenges posed by climate change.

Heat and the construction industry

In the construction industry, heat is not only a source of danger for people, but also has a direct impact on the building materials. High temperatures can negatively affect the properties of building materials, leading to adhesion problems and cracking. Construction workers are obliged to stick to the specified working hours, but are not allowed to leave the construction site on their own initiative unless they are officially granted heat-free time. In addition, to ensure the safety of their employees, employers must take appropriate protective measures and, if necessary, adapt work processes accordingly. At temperatures above 30 degrees, it is advisable to move physically demanding work to cooler times of the day and to plan enough breaks in the shade.

So if the thermometer continues to rise and the conversations on the market and on the construction site are characterized by the oppressive heat, one thing is clear: the people in Königs Wusterhausen must remain creative and agile in order to face the challenges that climate change brings with it. Whether it's cooler bags at the market or breaks in the shade on the construction site - everyone can do their part to beat the heat.

Maz-online.de addresses an important topic that affects us all.