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The heatwave conditions created during the summer season, with the increase in temperature and relative humidity, expose workers to the risk of heat stress and can cause serious damage to workers' health, such as embarrassing skin rashes and even death and heat stroke. Since the risk of heat stress mainly concerns workers employed in construction sites and other outdoor workplaces where it is not possible to install air conditioning systems or to apply other effective technical measures to regulate conditions of high temperature and relative humidity, the Labour Inspectorate Department will carry out an inspection campaign in the above-mentioned places. Details of this campaign, which will be carried out during the months of July and August 2023, are set out below:
During the months of July and August 2023, the Technical Inspectorate will carry out an inspection campaign at construction sites and premises of various economic activities where outdoor work is carried out and where the thermal stress of workers is likely to be particularly high during the summer months.
The inspections will focus mainly on checking compliance with the main provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Legislation in relation to the implementation of preventive and protective measures to address the risks related to the thermal stress of workers. It is understood that, in parallel, compliance with the provisions of the said Legislation in relation to other risks will also be checked.
In this regard, it is recalled that in order to address the heat stress of workers in enclosed or outdoor areas, employers and self-employed persons must apply the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Stress) Orders 2014 and 2020 (Κ.Δ.Π. 291/2014 και DDP 206/2020), which are available, together with relevant information, on the TEEE website, http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/dli.
According to the above Code, and especially with regard to outdoor work, both employers and self-employed persons should measure the parameters that contribute to heat stress, such as air temperature and relative humidity and/or monitor the weather reports and forecasts of the Meteorological Service and adjust their work accordingly. Note that special instruments are available on the market for simultaneous measurement of dry bulb temperature and humidity.
To document the monitoring of temperature and humidity conditions, as well as required work/rest changes and other measures, employers and self-employed persons must record the above measurements and measures in the Table 14 of the Code entitled "Recording of temperature and humidity conditions, work/rest change per hour and measures" when high temperature conditions combined with relative humidity prevail and act in accordance with Table 12 of the Code entitled "Mandatory working relationship - change of work/rest", i.e. to reduce or interrupt the work they are carrying out.
Detailed information material on this campaign, as well as the Short Guide to the Code of Practice on heat stress for workers, which includes the main provisions of the Code and the required protection and prevention measures.
For additional clarification or information, the public may contact the relevant Officers at 22405673 and 22405623 or at ypapayiannis@dli.mlsi.gov.cy.
(AF/EXP)
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