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- Ελληνικά
In view of the high temperatures and the special conditions prevailing, as well as the relevant forecasts of the Department of Meteorology, the Labour Inspection 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 orange danger level, it is necessary to interrupt, between the hours of 12:00-16:00, while the warning is in effect,
- all outdoor heavy and medium-duty work, and
- work 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 goods/food/mail and/or other activities.
The orange level hazard warning and work stoppage applies to inland (areas with an altitude below 300 metres, more than 10 kilometres from the coastline) and higher mountain areas (mountain areas with an altitude above 1150 metres).
For all other cases (light work and in areas where the orange level of risk does not apply), TEEE reminds that based on the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (Code of Practice on Thermal Exposure of Workers) Orders of 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 (organizational and technical) to avoid or reduce thermal stress, such as:
- Organisation of frequent short rest breaks in a shady and cool place or in a suitably air-conditioned area or in an area where fans are used where practicable.
- Arrangement/selection of a shady place or construction of suitable shelters for carrying out the work where possible.
- Rotate workers on the job according to the type of activity being performed.
- Avoiding, where possible, 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 should be stopped when the lower or higher relative humidity levels prevail, depending on the type and severity of the work:
| Work Severity | Temperature (in shade) oC | |||||||
| 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | |
| Light: | ≥ 53% | ≥ 48% | ≥ 43% | ≥ 39% | ≥ 34% | ≥ 29% | ≥ 25 | ≥ 23 |
| Moderate: | ≥ 48% | ≥ 43% | ≥ 38% | ≥ 34% | [TD] ≥ 29% | ≥ 26% | ≥ 22 | ≥ 19 |
| Heavy: | ≥ 42% | ≥ 37% | ≥ 33% | ≥ 28% | [TD] ≥ 25% | ≥ 21% | ≥ 18 | ≥ 15 |
| Gravity Labour |
[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 gables, asphalt paving work carried out by mechanical means.
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]
Heavy
[/TD] [TD]Intensive manual work, processing and placing reinforcement, assembling/disassembling molds, digging or breaking hard materials with power tools/devices/machinery weighing more than 15 kg, paving work performed by manual means.
[/TD] [/TR]
For more information, interested parties may consult the website of the Technical Inspectorate at 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
(NYAN/MS)
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