The first ordinances have arrived from some local administrations that prohibit activities above 35 degrees,
The summer heat is coming with high temperatures and construction workers are on alert to safeguard their health. It is necessary to change the organization of work on construction sites and protect those who are directly exposed to the sun, at risk heat stroke, accidents, often fatal, the risk of occupational disease.
The first ordinances banning work above 35 degrees have arrived from some local administrations, but it is not enough. We need to enact structural regulatory interventions and measures that definitively recognize access to redundancy fund for climatic events.
Recently the Lazio Region issued an ordinance to protect workers exposed to excessive heat. The Ordinance, signed by President Francesco Rocca, imposes a ban on carrying out work in the agricultural, horticultural sectors and on construction sites during the hottest days. These workers, in fact, are particularly vulnerable to heat stress and heat stroke due to prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
Francesco Rocca highlighted that the Ordinance represents a measure of public protection and safety, stating that the Lazio Region puts an end to arduous work on the hottest days. On these days, all work activities in the agricultural, horticultural and construction sectors will be prohibited, with the aim of preventing deaths and accidents at work.
The Ordinance aims to reduce the impact of thermal stress and prevent serious consequences for the health of workers. The Lazio Region intends to promote the Ordinance throughout the regional territory, involving Prefects, Mayors, local health authorities, trade unions, trade associations and employers to ensure its wide diffusion.
The Fillea Cgil of Naples and Caserta, trade union organizations in the construction sector have asked the president of the Campania Region, Vincenzo De Luca to issue a similar provision.
“In our opinion, we need not only a provision to regulate working hours but – points out Joseph Apples general secretary of Fillea Cgil Napoli – also a specific redundancy fund that guarantees the maintenance of wages for workers during those time slots in which activities are suspended”.
On the same wavelength, Irene Velotti general secretary of Fillea Cgil of Caserta. “Against the great heat expected in the next few days, it is necessary to reduce the hours of exposure, even temporarily changing working hours and for larger companies using shifts, avoiding the hottest central hours and providing water and mineral salts as well as breaks to refresh themselves in fresh places – highlights Velotti who invites “construction companies to social responsibility for heat risk. What should not be done is to increase working hours, as requested by the Policlinico construction site to cope with the progress of the works”.
In the Caserta area “activity on construction sites – explains the Velotti – is in full swing and it was also last week when temperatures reached 40 degrees. And in the coming weeks we expect heat waves that will put sectors such as construction to the test. But in some areas, for example in Lazio, the Region, through an ordinance, has intervened to protect workers, while all is quiet in Campania where we await the prompt intervention of President De Luca”. “The excessive heat – remember the Velotti – significantly increases the risk to the health and safety of workers on construction sites.
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