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The paper deals with thermal sensations of employees working outdoors, at heights. The research was conducted on 70 external scaffolding structures. Thermal sensations were analysed using five indices, namely Discomfort Index (DI), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), and Standard Effective Temperature* (SET*). The research focused on thermal sensations associated with hot and cold, as these may pose a considerable risk to employees. Heat-related thermal sensations described by UTCI, PET, and SET* were almost twice as frequent on structures with protective nets. The workers situated in different locations on the same scaffolding experienced disparate thermal sensations. The maximum relative differences in index values on single scaffolding in one measurement cycle ranged from 26 % for DI to 70.2 % for PET. In the case of sensations related to heat, WBGT provided the highest indications, whereas SET* the lowest. On the analysed structures, work was performed in heat-related conditions for 28.8 % of the total working time according to DI, up to 71.4 % according to WBGT. In the case of sensations related to cold, PET provided the most unfavourable indications. The increasing prevalence of extreme heatwaves driven by climate change, coupled with the tendency for heat islands to form in urban areas where scaffolding is commonly erected, underscores the urgency of accurate assessment of thermal sensations. Understanding the climate’s impact on workers can help develop a safer work schedule, which may subsequently reduce the number of situations that could potentially lead to accidents.
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