Workplace Safety Alert: Intense Heat Waves Pose Health Dangers and Boost Occupational Accidents Risk - Employers Need to Implement Safety Measures
In the current season, which is experiencing record-breaking temperatures, workers across various industries are facing the challenge of heat stress. This condition can reduce concentration and performance, increase the risk of accidents at work, and potentially lead to health issues.
To help combat these issues, Ver.di, a prominent trade union in Germany representing United Services workers, has published an information sheet titled "Working in the Heat | Labor Market and Social Policy". The sheet is aimed at works councils and employees and provides tips for coping with heat stress.
Rebecca Liebig, the federal board member of Ver.di responsible for occupational safety, has made several recommendations. Employers are required by law to ensure workplaces and facilities do not pose health risks to employees. To this end, Liebig advises employers to provide suitable drinks, such as water, and to ensure that toilet facilities are available. For outdoor workers, mobile toilets should be provided.
In addition, employers should design jobs and delivery routes to allow employees to work mostly in the shade. UV-protective clothing, headgear, sunglasses with UV filters, and sunscreen with a high sun protection factor should be provided to protect workers from the sun's harmful rays.
Regular preventative cool-down rest breaks are also essential, as is training employees and supervisors to recognize and respond to heat-related illness symptoms. In the event of a heat-related illness, employers should implement emergency procedures and respond promptly without penalty for affected workers.
Ver.di's guidelines reflect practices advised by occupational safety sources, such as the Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries and OSHA, for outdoor workers. However, it's important to note that the specific protective measures recommended by Ver.di during heatwaves are not detailed in the provided results.
Recent reports mention that workers represented by Ver.di have won the right to stop work during excessive heatwaves ("red weather alerts") under a new labor agreement. This suggests that Ver.di is actively advocating for protecting workers from heat exposure risks.
In summary, while Ver.di's specific protective measures during heatwaves are not detailed in the provided results, their advocacy includes the right to cease work during extreme heat, aligning with broader occupational health principles such as hydration, shade, breaks, training, and emergency response. For precise Ver.di guidance, direct union publications would be the best source.
Science plays a crucial role in understanding the impact of environmental conditions on workplace-wellness, especially during extreme heatwaves. employer's responsibility in ensuring a health-and-wellness friendly environment, as laid out by occupational safety regulations, extends to providing proper hydration, shade, protective clothing, regular rest breaks, and emergency procedures to combat heat stress.
