Heat wave in Saxony: This is how people survive the 43 degrees!
Dresden will experience extreme heat at 43 degrees on July 2, 2025. Employees seek refreshment while employers are challenged.

Heat wave in Saxony: This is how people survive the 43 degrees!
The temperatures in Cologne are reaching their peak today: On Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 was declared the hottest day of the year, with a predicted 38 degrees in many parts of Germany. But in some places, like Dresden, an incredible 43 degrees were measured. Describes how people in Saxony deal with these extreme temperatures Sächsische.de.
Particular attention is paid to workers who work outdoors or in areas with high heat loads. Mohammad Majidi, for example, at the Dürüm Kebap House in Dresden's Neustadt manages to work professionally and consume a lot of fresh fruit and water despite the scorching heat of 43 degrees. Roofer Andreas Kaseler also reports extreme conditions. On the roof of an apartment building he has to contend with temperatures of up to 56 degrees. The highly reflective materials generate additional radiated heat, which can reach temperatures of up to 75 degrees.
Health and safety at work
A burning issue in this heat wave is working conditions and the responsibility of employers. How Tagesschau.de reports, employees in Germany have no legal right to be heat-free - even if the temperatures in the office rise. Employers, on the other hand, are obliged to take measures to ensure a cool working environment once temperatures exceed a certain point. From 26 degrees the employer is required to create cooling options, and from 30 degrees he has to take action.
Meanwhile, such conditions may apply to external workers such as: B. Construction workers, who are often exposed to temperatures well above 35 degrees, can be quite challenging. At a construction site on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße in Leipzig, construction worker Tim Hammer works in unbearable temperatures of 54 degrees and takes measures to recover in the shade.
The consequences of climate change
The frequency and intensity of such heat waves are increasing and are linked to climate change. These connections are examined in detail in a report by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS). The report entitled “Climate change and health – effects on the world of work” provides valuable insights into risk groups and identifies particularly affected sectors, as in BMAS is to be read.
In the world of work, heat poses a real health risk, especially for vulnerable groups such as older people or people with previous illnesses. Current estimates show that tens of thousands of people in Europe fall victim to heat effects every year. It is therefore more important than ever to take the issues of heat protection and prevention in the world of work seriously and to take appropriate mitigation measures.
In the next few years, it will be crucial that those responsible in both business and politics work together to develop solutions to ensure that workers are protected from extreme temperatures. In addition to physiological aspects, awareness of the effects of climate change on health is also of utmost importance.