## New Regulations Prioritize Worker Safety During Extreme Heat
Recent legislation, enacted last month, aims to substantially enhance corporate obligation regarding employee well-being in the face of increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. As stated by a government official, the core principle of this decree is to establish a proactive system of vigilance for companies to ensure worker safety . This translates to a fundamental understanding: demanding physical labor during peak heat – such as working on rooftops when temperatures soar to 40°C (104°F) – is unacceptable and requires preventative measures. The urgency of implementing thes guidelines was underscored by an emergency interministerial meeting convened to address the current heatwave.
### Adapting Work Practices for Rising Temperatures
The May 27th,2025 decree introduces specific changes to the Labor Code,directly addressing risks associated with heatwaves categorized by Météo-France’s alert levels: yellow,orange,and red . employers are now mandated to conduct thorough risk assessments. Should these assessments reveal potential health and safety hazards due to extreme heat, employers must proactively adjust work association. This includes modifying schedules to avoid peak heat hours, temporarily halting strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day, and providing more frequent and extended rest breaks.
Consider, such as, construction crews. Rather of continuing bricklaying during the midday sun, work could shift to indoor tasks or be rescheduled for cooler morning or evening