Filenews 16 August 2023
The Department of Labour Inspection (TEE) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance informs employers and self-employed persons that, in view of the warning of the Department of Meteorology for an extremely high temperature at an orange risk level covering the highest mountainous areas (1150-1650 meters), it is necessary to stop, between the hours of 12:00-16:00:
- all outdoor heavy and moderate work, and
- The transport of products and/or delivery of products using two-wheel vehicles (e.g. motorcycle, moped, bicycle) or personal mobility devices (scooters, e-scooters), such as the transport and/or delivery of products/food/mail and/or other activities.
It is reminded that for the rest of the territory not covered by the orange warning, the provisions of the Safety and Health at Work (Code of Practice for Thermal Stress of Workers) Decrees of 2014, 2020 and 2023 (Κ.Δ.Π. 291/2014, Κ.Δ.Π. 206/2020 and Κ.Δ.Π.231/2023) are in force, according to which:
- 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 as:
- Organization of frequent short breaks for rest in a shady, cool place or properly air-conditioned area or in an area where fans are used where possible.
- Configuration / selection of shady place or construction of suitable shelters for the execution of works where possible.
- Rotation of employees at work according to the type of activity performed.
- Avoidance, where possible, of strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day (12:00-16:00).
- Provision of fresh drinking water to employees (temperature 10 – 15οC).
- Provision and use by workers of appropriate head coverings.
- Use by employees of lightweight, loose and breathable clothing such as cotton and use of appropriate sunglasses.
- Avoid taking large meals or sugary foods or swallowing alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
- Training of workers.
According to the provisions of the Code of Practice (Tables 12 and 13), for temperature conditions of 39° to 46°, work should be stopped when the following or higher relative humidity rates prevail depending on the type and gravity of the work:
| Work Gravity | Temperature (shaded) oC | |||||||
| 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | |
| Light: | ≥ 53% | ≥ 48% | ≥ 43% | ≥ 39% | ≥ 34% | ≥ 29% | ≥ 25 | ≥ 23 |
| Moderate: | ≥ 48% | ≥ 43% | ≥ 38% | ≥ 34% | ≥ 29% | ≥ 26% | ≥ 22 | ≥ 19 |
| Heavily: | ≥ 42% | ≥ 37% | ≥ 33% | ≥ 28% | ≥ 25% | ≥ 21% | ≥ 18 | ≥ 15 |
| Work Gravity | Examples |
| Light | Office work, stewardship, bench work with light tools, routine driving. |
| Moderate | Fencing installation, concreting, brick building, plastering, painting, floor laying, tile laying, carving, forging, transportation of light objects, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, mechanical works, aluminum installation, railing installation, asphalt paving works carried out by mechanical means. |
| Heavily | Intense manual work, 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 work 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 at the following telephone numbers:
Nicosia: 22879191
Limassol: 25827200
Larnaca: 24805327
Paphos: 26822715
Famagusta: 23819750
