|
High concentrations of dust are
observed in the atmosphere today according to measurements from ground
Stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network operated by the Department of
Labour Inspection. The public and particularly any vulnerable groups of population (children, older people, and the infirm) are urged to avoid circulating in open spaces until the observed episode has elapsed, as the small size of respirable particles in dust may have negative effects on human health. The employers, based on The
Safety and Health at Work (Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons at
Work During Dust Episodes) Order of 2022 (P. I. 410/2022), must take
appropriate measures (organisational and/or technical) after assessing any
risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces. It is also
recommended that workers in such spaces use appropriate means of personal
protection. In detail, the latest hourly
dust concentrations measured at 9:00 a.m. in the following areas are:
It is noted that ‘dust’
refers to respirable particulate matter of a diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10)
in the atmosphere. According to the relevant legislation, a limit value not
to be exceeded is set for the daily average concentrations at 50 μg/m3
(micrograms per cubic meter). More information on the
measured pollutant concentrations and real-time updates is available online
at www.airquality.gov.cy, and also through the free mobile
application ‘Air Quality Cyprus’. (EP/AP) |
