In view of the high temperatures that may prevail in the coming months, the Labour Inspection Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance reminds employers and employees that the risks to workers' health from heat stress are particularly high.
To address the heat stress of workers in enclosed or outdoor areas, employers and self-employed persons must implement the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Stress) Orders 2014 and 2020 (KDP 291/2014 and KDP 206/2020), which are available, together with relevant information, on the website of TEI, Department of Labour InspectionCypriot Republic - Department of Labour Inspection - Welcome to our Website.
The aim of the Code of Practice is to help employers and self-employed persons to implement the provisions of the legislation in order to avoid or reduce to an acceptable level the risks arising from the exposure of workers to heat-stressed workplaces and to create a safe, healthy and productive working environment.
The Code provides, inter alia, that both employers and self-employed persons shall measure the parameters contributing to heat stress, such as air temperature and relative humidity and/or monitor the weather reports and forecasts of the Department of Meteorology and adjust their work accordingly, taking appropriate and adequate measures to avoid or reduce heat stress.
To document the monitoring of temperature and humidity conditions, as well as required work/rest changes and other measures, employers and self-employed persons shall record the above measurements and measures in Table 14: "Record 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: "Mandatory work relationship - change of work/rest" i.e. to reduce and/or interrupt the work they are carrying out.
To facilitate understanding and application of the Code, a Short Guide entitled "Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Stress" has been prepared. The Short Guide outlines the key provisions of the Code and the measures required, which include the following:
- Organise working time so that heavy work is carried out during the coolest hours of the day.
- Arranging frequent short rest breaks in a shady, cool place or a suitably air-conditioned room or in a place where fans are used, where possible.
- Design/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 (temperature 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.
It is recommended that workers with health problems, such as cardiovascular or other diseases, be especially careful and consult their physician when they may be exposed to heat stress.
The TEI staff at the Central Offices in Nicosia and at the local District Labour Inspection Offices in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta are at the disposal of employers, employers and self-employed persons for additional information or clarification on this matter.
(EK/EXP)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
