As Europe broiled under record-shattering temperatures, Rolex has decided to halt construction work early Friday afternoon at its new manufacturing campus in Bulle, Switzerland.
The company ordered the site to close from 1 p.m., despite having already introduced measures including mandatory hourly breaks, air-conditioned rest areas, sunscreen stations, water distribution and an earlier 6 a.m. start time to reduce workers' exposure to the heat.
The unusual temperatures are testing Europe's ability to adapt to extreme weather, including at major construction projects like the one in Bulle, where workers must wear standard protective gear, long clothing and neck coverings, with some working underground on a project involving enormous financial and scheduling challenges.
About 380 people, including contractors and supervisory staff, were working on the Bulle site on Thursday. Project managers said working conditions varied depending on location, with employees on exposed concrete slabs facing the most difficult conditions despite shaded areas and scheduled breaks.
The continent's stifling heat wave — the second in two months — has disrupted education, transportation and other aspects of daily life for millions of people, with officials warning that older people or those who work outdoors, like on construction sites, are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.