[PIO] Summer Session 2023: Implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health (Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Exposure) Regulations

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 (Decree 291/2014 and Decree 291/2014 and Decree 291/2014. 206/2020[/URL]), which are available, together with relevant information, on the TEE 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 thermally 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 entitled: "Recording of temperature and humidity conditions, hourly work/rest changes and measures" when high temperature conditions combined with relative humidity prevail and act in accordance with Table 12 entitled: "Mandatory work relationship - work/rest change", i.e. to reduce and/or interrupt the work they are carrying out.

To facilitate the implementation of the Code, a Short Guide entitled "Short Guide to the Code of Practice on Workers' Heat Stress" has been prepared Short Guide. The Short Guide outlines the key provisions of the Code and the measures required, which include the following:

1. 1. Organise working time so that heavy work is carried out during the coolest hours of the day.
   2. Organising frequent short rest breaks in a shady, cool place or in a suitably air-conditioned area or in an area where fans are used, where possible.
   3. Design/selection of a shady place or construction of suitable shelters for carrying out the work, where possible.
   4. Rotate workers on the job according to the type of activity being performed.
   5. Avoiding, where possible, strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day (12:00-16:00).
   6. Providing workers with cool drinking water (10 - 15°C).
   7. Provision and use by workers of suitable headgear.
   8. Use by workers of light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing (such as cotton clothing) and use of appropriate sunglasses.
   9. Avoid eating large meals or sugary foods or ingesting alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
   10. 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 Offices are at the disposal of employers, employees and self-employed persons for additional information or clarification on this matter.

(NΓ/ΣΧ)
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