THE EAGLE. Unions at work to guarantee health and safety on reconstruction construction sites in view of the summer season, especially with a view to prevention of heat-related risks. Filca Cisl has announced its commitment to reaching flexibility agreements to protect the health of workers when it is necessary to deal with the scorching summer temperatures. There are approximately 10,000 workers in the construction sector, from which, however, those who work indoors or in less exposed sites must be excluded.
«Our priority is to ensure safe and adequate working conditions, reducing the risks associated with extreme heat». Talking is Angelo Petricone, territorial manager for Filca Cisl. There are several issues of discussion regarding flexibility agreements.
«First of all, the change to working hours, with an early start of construction site activities and completion in the cooler hours of the day. We also believe it is appropriate to implement shifts that avoid the hours of maximum peak heat, reducing exposure to direct sun. It will therefore be necessary to plan breaks and refreshment moments.” In particular, the Filca Cisl trade unionist refers to the scheduling of more frequent and prolonged breaks during the hottest hours of the day and the setting up of shaded refreshment areas.
But not only. “Workers must be provided with fresh water to prevent dehydration,” adds the trade unionist. Then there is the aspect linked to the training and awareness of companies and employees regarding the possible critical issues and the preventive measures to be adopted. «We will promote specific training courses for workers on the risks associated with high temperatures and on the safe practices to adopt. We will also launch awareness campaigns aimed at employers to promote a culture of safety and well-being on construction sites.”
Finally, initiatives aimed at control. On the one hand, the introduction of systems for monitoring climatic conditions and thermal stress levels, on the other, rapid intervention procedures in the event of an emergency.
«Collaboration with companies will be fundamental through continuous dialogue that allows safety measures to be adapted to the specific needs of construction sites. Incentives will therefore be guaranteed for those companies that adopt and respect the flexibility agreements”, explains Angelo Petricone finally.
©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
