11 measures to protect workers from “heat stress”

The Abu Dhabi Center for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHAD) has identified 11 measures that employers must take to protect workers in open sites from heat stress, the most important of which is setting the dates for carrying out maintenance and repair work in hot areas during colder times, and enabling workers to acclimate through a chronological progression of their exposure periods. To work in hot weather, provide cold water or fluids for workers.

The center called for adhering to eight precautionary measures while working in the sun, the most prominent of which is wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to allow air to pass through.

In detail, “OSHAD” launched the new version of the “Safety in the Heat 2019” program, concerned with enhancing the awareness of employers and worker supervisors in open work sites, of the importance of taking the necessary measures, understanding and implementing the heat stress management program, to protect workers from the heat in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in line with… With the decision to ban working at noon, which is implemented by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which stipulates that it is prohibited to perform work under the rays of the sun in open places (from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm), which continues until next September 15.

The Center stated in a guidebook it launched that workers who work under the sun, especially in the summer, may be exposed to many occupational diseases and injuries, the most important of which is heat stress (which may lead to sunstroke, heat exhaustion, fainting, cramps, and skin rashes). Pointing out that high temperatures may also lead to injuries among workers through sweaty hands and dizziness.

The center indicated that among the workers most vulnerable to heat stress are those who work in open work sites such as (construction workers, cleaning workers, agricultural workers), stressing the importance of employers providing the means and tools of awareness and training necessary for their workers to understand the effects of heat stress and how to prevent it. Hence, taking the necessary measures to protect workers from heat stress by providing rest periods, constant water, and shaded places.

According to the guide for the Safety in the Heat Program, employers must take 11 measures to protect workers from heat stress, including setting dates for maintenance and repair work in hot areas during the coldest times, setting dates for performing heat work at times of the day during which temperatures drop, Enabling workers to adapt by staggering their exposure to work in hot weather, limiting the physical requirements that workers must meet, employing additional workers or assigning a larger number of workers to perform tasks that require physical effort.

The list of preventive measures also included: providing cold water or liquids for workers, avoiding drinks that contain large amounts of sugar, providing breaks to drink water, providing cool areas to sit in during breaks, monitoring workers who are at risk of heat stress, in addition to providing training. What is required regarding dealing with cases of heat stress, while providing information about “the risks that threaten workers, methods of prevention and monitoring of symptoms, and the importance of the worker monitoring himself and his co-workers to monitor symptoms, treatment, and personal protective equipment.”

The guide also specified eight precautionary measures that open site workers must adhere to, especially while working in the sun, to prevent heat stress. They begin with the necessity of wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that allows air to pass through, such as cotton clothing, while avoiding clothing with synthetic fabrics that… Prevent air from entering, then gradually perform work from light to heavy, as well as setting times for doing hard work during the cooler times of the day, while being careful to take more rest periods during times of high temperatures. The temperature and humidity are extreme, so rest in shaded places or a cool area if possible.

Precautionary measures also included making sure to drink water frequently, drinking sufficient amounts of water to make it impossible to feel thirsty, avoiding drinks that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar, wearing protective clothing or personal protective equipment when needed, as it increases From the risk of heat exhaustion, and finally, the worker monitors his physical condition and the condition of his co-workers.

Educational messages in several languages

The Abu Dhabi Center for Occupational Safety and Health, “OSHAD”, stated that the most important objectives of the “Safety in the Heat” program are to provide the necessary information to employers that operate within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and have workers in places with high temperatures, the most important of which is monitoring and measuring weather conditions, especially workplace workers. External information exposed directly to the sun, in addition to information about the thermal processes that take place inside the work site, such as ovens or ovens, and other processes characterized by high temperatures.

He said that the program also aims to help and guide employers to understand and implement the heat stress management program, and to ensure correct control measures to protect workers from exposure to sunlight, by providing educational material for occupational safety and health practitioners, supervisors and workers, which will define the various responsibilities and necessary procedures. To combat and avoid diseases caused by high temperatures, which forms part of the heat stress management program.

The center added that the program seeks to provide educational messages directed to workers in several languages, and to provide inspection and audit models for employers to determine the requirements that must be available at work sites to reduce heat stress, in addition to working to increase awareness about diseases associated with high temperatures and ways to prevent them.