Following the rise in seasonal temperatures, the Lazio regionthrough an ordinance signed by the president Francesco Roccahas decided to adopt new measures to protect the health of workers exposed to excessive heat, with particular attention to the agricultural, horticultural and construction sectors. Workers employed in these areas, in fact, are at greater risk of thermal stress and heat stroke, due to prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
“The Lazio Region says a stop to strenuous work on days of maximum heat. In fact, with the signing of this important ordinance, we prohibit on these days any work activity in the agricultural, horticultural and construction sites sectors. This is a measure to protect jobs and public safety: we don’t want any more deaths and accidents at work. This is one of the many initiatives, in addition to the increase in SPRESAL technicians in the local health authorities, to guarantee and improve quality and safety in the workplace throughout the regional territory”, declared the president of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca.
The main objective of the ordinance is to reduce the impact of thermal stress and prevent serious consequences for the health of workers. The Lazio Region is committed to promoting the ordinance with widespread diffusion throughout the entire regional territory, also thanks to the support of Prefects, Mayors, local health authorities, representatives of trade unions, trade associations and employers.
Inail, with the Woeklimate project, has made national heat exposure risk prediction maps available on the Workilmate 2.0 website. In this sense, the Region has decided to prohibit outdoor work activities from 12.30 pm to 4 pm, with immediate effect until 31 August 2024, on the days in which the risk of exposure to the sun with intense physical activity is reported on the Workilmate website 2.0 – work in the sun as “HIGH”.
