Heat protection at the workplace
UV protection, measures and workwear for everyday business.
Heat protection that actually.
From January 1, 2026, the new Heat Protection Ordinance for outdoor work will apply in Austria. For companies, this means: protective measures are mandatory and must function effectively in everyday work – not just on paper.
This particularly affects:
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Construction & Assembly
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Logistics & Transport
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Field Service & Maintenance
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Gardening & Landscaping
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Event & Infrastructure Work
👉 The crucial question is no longer whether, but how you implement heat protection in practice.
Details on the legal basis can be found here:
LEGAL OBLIGATION
Clear Responsibility for Employers
The legal requirements demand not just theory, but effective solutions within the workplace.
Employers must:
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Realistically assess hazards
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Define concrete measures
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Implement these in daily work routines
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And ensure compliance
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A heat protection plan forms the basis for this.
WHEN DOES IT BECOME MANDATORY?
When heat becomes a concrete danger
Measures are required as soon as there is a health risk.
Austria:
The Heat Protection Ordinance specifies this for outdoor work. From heat warning level 2 ("Yellow," perceived temperature approx. 30 °C), the measures defined in the heat protection plan must be implemented.
EU:
Directive 89/656/EEC does not specify a threshold, but generally obligates employers to provide suitable personal protective equipment if risks cannot be sufficiently reduced otherwise.
IMPLEMENTATION IN THE WORKPLACE (TOP PRINCIPLE)
Heat protection only works as a complete system.
Effective heat protection is based on the TOP principle:
Technical measures
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Shading of workplaces
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Reduction of direct sunlight
Organizational measures
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Shifting working hours to cooler times of day
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Reducing or redistributing physically demanding tasks
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Scheduling additional breaks
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Providing shaded or cooled break areas
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Ensuring an adequate supply of beverages
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Personal measures
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UV-protective, full-body clothing
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Head protection for outdoor work
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Supplementary cooling products during periods of high heat
👉 Important: Personal protective measures are only used as a supplement.
UV PROTECTION IN WORKWEAR
No mandatory value – but a clear responsibility for protection
There is no legally mandated fixed UPF value. What matters is that the clothing actually provides protection during use.
Important:
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sufficient skin coverage
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effective UV protection in everyday work
Many robust work materials already offer basic protection.
HEAT PROTECTION AS A SYSTEM SOLUTION
Individual measures are not enough.
Effective heat protection results from the interplay of several factors:
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Adapted work organization
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Technical protective measures
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Suitable work clothing
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Head protection & UV protection
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Supplementary cooling measures
Sunscreens can provide support, but they do not replace protective clothing.
OUR SOLUTION FOR YOUR COMPANY
Ötscher-Berufskleidung – Your Partner for Occupational Safety
We support companies in the practical implementation of heat protection measures – directly applicable in everyday work.
Our Focus:
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Functional, breathable workwear
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Solutions with certified UV protection when needed
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Head protection for outdoor work
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Cooling products for noticeable relief in the heat
👉 Goal: less strain, more safety, and stable processes – even at high temperatures.
Advantages of UV-protective workwear
Protective function
Reduces the exposure of the skin to harmful UV radiation.
Year-round effect
Works regardless of season and weather conditions.
Flexibility
Usable in various industries and applications.
Breathability
Supports a balanced body climate in hot weather
Advantages in detail
Titel | Beschreibung |
|---|---|
Schutz ohne zusätzliche Verhaltensanforderungen | Im Gegensatz zu Sonnencreme erfordert UV-Schutzkleidung keine aktive Anwendung im Tagesverlauf und bietet dadurch konstanten Schutz während der gesamten Arbeitszeit. |
Ganzjähriger Schutz – nicht nur im Sommer | UV-Strahlung ist auch bei Bewölkung und in höheren Lagen vorhanden. Schutzkleidung wirkt unabhängig von Wetterbedingungen und Tageszeit. |
Flexibel einsetzbar in verschiedenen Branchen | Geeignet für alle Outdoor-Arbeitsbereiche mit regelmäßiger Sonnen- und Hitzeexposition. |
Verbesserte Arbeitsfähigkeit bei Hitze und Sonne | Reduziert körperliche Belastung durch UV- und Hitzeeinwirkung und unterstützt stabile Leistung im Arbeitsalltag. |
Hohe Alltagstauglichkeit für Industrie und Gewerbe | Entwickelt für reale Einsatzbedingungen in Bau, Montage, Logistik und Außendienst – robust, funktional und langlebig. |
Kombinierbar mit dem TOP-Hitzeschutzprinzip | Ergänzt technische und organisatorische Maßnahmen wie Beschattung, Arbeitszeitverlagerung und Pausenregelungen sinnvoll. |
Erfüllung der Hitzeschutzanforderungen ab 2026 (Österreich) | Unterstützt Unternehmen dabei, die gesetzlichen Vorgaben zur Gefährdungsbeurteilung und Umsetzung von Schutzmaßnahmen praxisgerecht zu erfüllen. |
Zuverlässiger UV-Schutz bei Arbeiten im Freien | Schützt Mitarbeitende effektiv vor direkter Sonneneinstrahlung und reduziert langfristige gesundheitliche Belastungen durch UV-Strahlung. |
Additional Performance Features
UV Protection through Functional Fabric Structure
Tightly woven materials reduce UV penetration and offer reliable protection for outdoor work – even during prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Breathability & Heat Management
Modern functional fabrics support moisture transport and help to noticeably reduce heat stress during physical work.
High Durability for Daily Use
Developed for construction, assembly, logistics, and field service – robust, washable, and suitable for demanding working conditions.
Definition of UV protection
Frequently asked questions
Application Examples of UV Protective Clothing
UV protection is used wherever employees are regularly exposed to direct sunlight outdoors. It is a key component of modern occupational safety and heat protection concepts, especially in the workplace.
Typical applications include construction and assembly work, road and infrastructure projects, outdoor logistics, landscaping, and field service and maintenance work. In these activities, UV protective workwear reliably protects against intense UV radiation and supports compliance with current occupational safety requirements.
Even during extended periods outdoors, in changing weather conditions, or with increased UV exposure during the summer months, UV protection ensures that the skin remains continuously protected – regardless of sunscreen or short-term measures.
Therefore, UV protection is an important component for all industries where outdoor work is part of everyday life and where long-term health and performance must be ensured.
