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- Ελληνικά
In view of the high temperatures and the special conditions prevailing and the relevant forecasts of the Department of Meteorology, the Labour Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance informs employers and self-employed persons that, in view of the warning issued by the Department of Meteorology for extremely high temperatures at red danger level, it is necessary to stop working:
- All outdoor heavy and moderate work between the hours of 11:00 - 17:00 and
- operations involving the transportation of products and/or delivery of products using two-wheeled vehicles (e.g.e.g. motorcycle, moped, bicycle) or personal mobility devices (scooters, e-scooters), such as the transport and/or delivery of products/food/mail and/or other activities, between the hours of 12:00 - 16:00.
The red danger level warning and work stoppage applies to inland (areas with an altitude below 300 metres, more than 10 kilometres from the coastline) and higher mountainous areas (mountainous areas with an altitude above 1150 metres).
For all other cases (light work and in areas where the red risk level does not apply), the TEI reminds that, based on the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Exposure) Orders 2014, 2020 and 2023 (Κ.Δ.Π. 291/2014, K.Δ.Π. 206/2020 and K.Δ.Π.231/2023):
- Both employers and self-employed persons must measure, in the areas where work is carried out, the parameters (temperature and relative humidity) that contribute to the thermal load. According to the prevailing conditions of air temperature (in the shade) and relative humidity, they must adjust their work accordingly and apply a change of each task or rest or interruption of work, depending on the type of work performed, as well as other appropriate and adequate measures (organisational and technical) to avoid or reduce thermal stress, such as:
- Organising frequent short rest breaks in a shady, cool place or in a suitably air-conditioned area or in an area where fans are used where possible
- Designing/selecting a shady place or constructing suitable shelters for carrying out the work where possible.
- Rotation of workers at work according to the type of activity being carried out.
- Avoidance, where possible, of strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day (12:00-16:00).
- Providing workers with cool drinking water (10 - 15°C).
- Provision and use by workers of suitable headgear.
- Use by workers of light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing such as cotton clothing and use of appropriate sunglasses.
- Avoid eating large meals or sugary foods or ingesting alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
- Training of workers.
In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Practice (Tables 12 and 13), for temperature conditions of 39° to 46°, work must be stopped when the relative humidity levels are lower or higher, depending on the type and severity of the work:
| Work Severity |
[TD]
Temperature (in shade) oC
[/TD][TR] [TD]
39
[/TD] [TD]40
[/TD] [TD]40
[/TD] [TD]41
[/TD] [TD]42
[/TD] [TD]43
[/TD] [TD]44
[/TD] [TD]44
[/TD] [TD]45
[/TD] [TD]46
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Light:
[/TD] [TD]≥ 53%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 48%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 43%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 39%
[/TD] [TD] [TD]≥ 34%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 29%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 25
[/TD] [TD]≥ 23
[/TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Moderate:
[/TD] [TD]≥ 48%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 43%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 38%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 34%
[/TD] [TD] [TD]≥ 29%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 26%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 22
[/TD] [TD]≥ 19
[/TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Heavy:
[/TD] [TD]≥ 42%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 37%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 33%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 28%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 25%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 21%
[/TD] [TD]≥ 18
[/TD] [TD]≥ 15
[/TD] [/TD] [/TR]
| Gravity Work |
[/TD] [TD] [TD]
Examples
[/TD][TR] [TD]
Light
[/TD] [TD]Office work, janitorial work, bench work with light tools, routine driving.
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]
Moderate
[/TD] [TD]Fence laying, concrete work, brick building, plastering, painting, flooring, tile laying, carving, hammering, carrying light objects, carpentry work, electrical work, plumbing work, mechanical work, mechanical work, installation of aluminium, installation of railings, asphalting work carried out by mechanical means.
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]
Heavy
[/TD] [TD]Intensive manual work, processing and placing reinforcement, assembling/disassembling moulds, digging or breaking hard materials with mechanical tools/devices/machinery weighing more than 15 kg, paving work carried out by manual means.
[/TD] [/TR]
For more information, interested parties may consult the TEI website under Thermal Stress and/or contact the Inspectors at the local District Offices of the Department at the following telephone numbers:
Nicosia: 22879191
Limassol: 25827200
Larnaca: 24805327
Paphos: 26822715
Famagusta: 23819750
(NZ/AF)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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