With the recent heatwave that affected us over the past few days, we had a discussion with our company’s Safety Engineer and asked him to provide us with 10 tips to stay safe and healthy in the workplace during the summer.
He actually gave us 10 + 1!
Let’s go through them together:
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Monitoring of thermal environment parameters in the workplace (e.g., calculating microclimate indices) and risk assessment for working in high temperatures.
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Training and informing employees:
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a) On identifying the risks of heat exposure and understanding protection measures (technical and organizational controls, use of Personal Protective Equipment – PPE).
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b) On recognizing symptoms and medical conditions associated with heat exposure.
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Providing cool drinking water (10–15 °C) close to work areas, with a recommendation of at least half a liter per hour.
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Advising employees to avoid alcohol and caffeine, and to wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing.
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Frequent rest breaks, with adequate water intake, preferably in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
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Suspending work when technical measures (e.g., shading, insulation, air conditioning) are not sufficient to ensure a safe thermal environment.
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Avoiding exposure of unacclimatized workers to high temperatures.
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Scheduling heavy work during the cooler hours of the day.
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Gradual adjustment of workers to their duties when exposed to high temperatures – i.e., acclimatization.
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High-risk groups (e.g., those with heart conditions or on serious medication) should receive special attention, and if necessary, be removed from heat exposure based on the occupational doctor’s judgment.
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Providing PPE such as cooling protective clothing (e.g., heat-reflective garments, liquid cooling systems that remove heat from the skin) to exposed workers.
Source: ELINYAE (There is no English version available)