Record temperatures in Basilicata: the President of the Region, Vito Bardi, has issued an ordinance to protect the health of thousands of agricultural workers. It is forbidden to work from 12.30 to 16.00.
There Basilicata, hit by record temperatures that have exceeded 40 degrees, is facing an unprecedented climate challenge. In response to this emergency, the President of the Region, Vito Bardi, issued an ordinance to protect the health of thousands of agricultural workers exposed to the sun during the hottest hours of the day. With immediate effect and until August 31st, work in conditions of prolonged exposure to the sun is prohibited, from 12.30 pm to 4 pm, throughout the entire regional territory in the areas or zones affected by the carrying out of work in the agricultural sector, limited only to days in which the risk map indicated on the Worklimate platform indicates a “High” risk level. This is what is established by Ordinance no. 1 of 18 June 2024 issued by the president of the Basilicata Region, Vito Bardi.
RECORD TEMPERATURES: THE WORKLIMATE 2.0 PLATFORM
«Worklimate 2.0 is a forecasting platform to reduce the impacts of exposure to high temperatures on the health and productivity of workers, coordinated by the National Research Council through the Institute for Bioeconomy (Cnr-Ibe) and Inail», explained Vito Bardi .
THE ORDER
The ordinance was justified by the Lucanian governor as an urgent measure to safeguard the health of thousands of agricultural workers. These workers, engaged in the laborious harvesting of fruit, vegetables and seasonal products, do not have the possibility of “sheltering from the sun and the heat at times of the day characterized by a notable rise in temperature which sees Basilicata overwhelmed by an exceptional heat wave” , the president of the Region noted.
Bardi’s ordinance strengthens the Region’s commitment to responsible and sustainable work policies. A decisive step towards the protection of workers’ rights and the promotion of safe and healthy working environments. It is a reminder of the importance of adapting public policies to emerging climate challenges.
