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[PIO] Protection of workers from heat stress

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The Labour Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance informs employers and self-employed persons that, in view of the warning of the Meteorological Department for extremely high temperature at orange danger level covering the highest mountain areas, it is necessary to interrupt, between the hours of 12:00-16:00 :


  1. all outdoor heavy and moderate work, and



    operations involving the transport and/or delivery of goods 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.

Note that the orange hazard level warning and work stoppage applies to the higher mountain areas (1150 - 1650 metres),

It is recalled that for the rest of the territory not covered by the orange warning, 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), according to which. 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:


[/LIST]

    1. Organising frequent short rest breaks in a shady, cool place or a suitably air-conditioned room or in an area where fans are used where possible.

[/LIST]

    1. Arrangement/selection of a shady place or construction of suitable shelters for carrying out the work where this is possible.

[/LIST]

    1. Rotation of workers at work according to the type of activity performed.


    1. Avoiding, where possible, strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day (12:00-16:00).


      1. Providing workers with cool drinking water (10-15°C).


      1. Provision and use by workers of suitable headgear.


      1. Use by workers of light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing such as cotton clothing and appropriate sunglasses.


      1. Avoid eating large meals or sugary foods or swallowing alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.


        1. Train workers.

      According to 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 Gravity

      [TD]

      Temperature (in shade) oC

      [/TD]

      [TR] [TD]

      39

      [/TD] [TD] [TD]

      39

      [/TD] [TD]

      40

      [/TD] [TD]

      41

      [/TD] [TD]

      42

      [/TD] [TD]

      43

      [/TD] [TD]

      44

      [/TD] [TD]

      45

      [/TD] [TD]

      46

      [/TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]

      Light:

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 53%

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 48%

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 43%

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 39%

      [/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]

      ≥ 34%

      [/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]

      ≥ 28%

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 25%

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 21%

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 18

      [/TD] [TD]

      ≥ 15

      [/TD] [/TD] [/TR]



      Gravity

      Work

      [/TD] [TD]

      Examples

      [/TD]

      [TR] [TD]

      Lightweight

      [/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 website of the Technical Inspectorate in the section 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

      EMPLOYMENT REVIEW DEPARTMENT

      MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND

      SOCIAL SECURITIES

      (IS)


      Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
      Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
      Source

 
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