In view of the orange warning of the Department of Meteorology for extremely high temperature in the interior and the higher mountains, the Department of Labour Inspection of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance, in an announcement, informs employers and self-employed that between the hours of 12:00 to 16:00 it is required to stop all heavy and moderate work, as well as the transport and/or delivery of products using two-wheel vehicles or personal mobility devices.

In addition, the Department of Labour Inspection states that both employers and self-employed persons must measure, in the places where work is carried out, the parameters (temperature and relative humidity) that contribute to the heat load. According to the prevailing conditions of air temperature (under shade) and relative humidity, they must regulate their work accordingly and apply a change of each work or rest or interruption of work, depending on the type of work performed, as well as other appropriate and adequate measures (organizational and technical) to avoid or reduce heat stress.

Such measures are the organization of frequent short breaks for rest in a shady, cool place or a properly air-conditioned place or in a place where fans are used where possible, the configuration / selection of a shady place or the construction of appropriate shelters for the execution of work where possible, the rotation of workers at work according to the type of activity performed, avoiding, where possible, strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day (12:00-16:00).

Also, fresh drinking water (temperature 10 – 15οC) must be available to employees. It is also recommended that employees provide and use appropriate head coverings and light, loose and breathable clothing, such as cotton items, and use appropriate sunglasses. Finally, it is recommended to avoid taking large meals or sugary foods or swallowing alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.

Moderate work is considered to be the installation of fencing, concreting, brick building, plastering, painting, floor laying, tile laying, carving, forging, transportation of light objects, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, mechanical work, aluminium laying, railing, asphalt paving work carried out by mechanical means.

Heavy labour is considered intense manual labour, processing and installation of reinforcement, assembly / disassembly of molds, digging or breaking hard materials with mechanical tools / devices / machines weighing more than 15 kg, asphalt paving works carried out by manual means.

For more information, interested parties can be informed from the TEE website in the section Thermal Stress and/or contact the Inspectors at the local District Offices of the Department, for Nicosia in 22879191, for Limassol in 25827200, for Larnaka 24805327, for Paphos in 26822715 and for Famagusta in 23819750.