(July - August 2022) (KMK/13)
In July and August 2022, the Labour Inspection Department (TEE) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance will conduct a campaign of inspections at construction sites and premises of various economic activities, where outdoor work is carried out and where the heat 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 at Work 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.
For information purposes, a list of checkpoints is attached together with the corresponding explanations.
In this regard, employers and self-employed persons are reminded that 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) Regulations 2014 and 2020 ([URL=HTTP://WWW.MLSI.GOV.CY/MLSI/DLI/DLIUP.NSF/ALL/1DEAB11A5388E1BFC2257E03004437B4/$FILE/KDP_291_2014.PDF?OPENELEMENT]KDP 291/2014
and KDP 206/2020), which are available, together with relevant information, on the TEI 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 "Required work-work/rest ratio", i.e. to reduce or even interrupt the work they are carrying out.
A Short Guide to the Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Stress, which includes the main provisions of the Code and the required protection and prevention measures.
For additional clarification or information, interested parties may contact the relevant Officers at 22405660 and 22405615 or at morphanides@dli.mlsi.gov.cy.
(NG/SX)
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