Every summer, the tragedy repeats itself: workers die exposed to extreme heat in Spain. Recently, a seasonal farmworker in Alcarràs died from heat stress, a case that barely appears in the Ministry of Labour's official statistics on heat-related occupational deaths. Experts and unions question these figures, underscoring that many deaths remain unaccounted for. While the Ministry of Health's Daily Mortality Monitoring System registered more than 2,000 heat-related deaths in 2024, the CSIC's MACE app suggests even higher figures, creating a stark contrast with official data that report zero work-related deaths from these causes.
The lack of adequate records is a widespread problem across Europe. In countries like Greece and France, heat-related workplace deaths are not recorded or are minimal, which raises doubts about the accuracy of the statistics. The unions highlight the need for a better diagnosis and propose improvements in the prevention of occupational risks in Spain. Despite greater regulatory and inspection efforts, such as the strengthening of heat-related accident surveillance, experts insist that current figures do not reflect reality. Additionally, they highlight that the problem disproportionately affects vulnerable workers and those with fewer resources, suggesting that solutions should consider social and gender factors.
Read the full news article on The Country.
