DOHA: Heat exhaustion cases decreased in Qatar last year compared to the previous three years due to increased awareness among workers and employers about preventive measures, a senior official of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has said.
About 800 heat exhaustion cases were reported in Qatar in 2014, which the SCH said pointed to a decline factoring in the population growth in the country. The SCH has asked companies and organisations to comply with the summer working hours for outdoor jobs that will be in force from July 15 to August 31. Companies that violate this rule will face a one-month closure.
Addressing a workshop titled “Beware of Heat Exhaustion”,
Dr Mohamad bin Hamad Al-Thani, director of Public Health at SCH, said it has launched a campaign to reduce heat exhaustion injuries among workers and protect them from occupational injuries caused by working at improper places.
The workshop was organised by the SCH in collaboration with the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Qatar Petroleum. It was attended by experts from SCH Occupational Health Section and occupational health officials from private companies and organisations.
Mohamad Al Thani said that the community is now fully aware of heat exhaustion, its symptoms and methods of prevention.
Prevention is very important and employers must provide adequate awareness and training to their staff to understand the effect of heat exhaustion and ways to prevent it, and take extra precautions to ensure workers’ safety like providing enough water and shaded rest areas.
Mohammed Al Ossairi, Head of Safety and Occupational Health Section at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, spoke about the laws and decisions on summer working hours. According to these laws the number of working hours related to jobs carried out in the sun or in open places must not exceed five from June 15 to August 31.
The morning working hours should not go beyond 11.30am and the evening shift should not start before 3pm. Employers must supply enough drinking water and provide rest areas for workers. Companies that fail to comply will face a month’s closure, he added.
Dr Sa’edAbdulfatah Al Noaimi, Senior Consultant at HMC, in a presentation on heat exhaustion said the number of cases in 2014 did not rise above 800 which is low compared to previous years taking into consideration the increase in number of workers in the country during 2014.
Dr Mohammed Ali Al Hajjaj, Head of Occupational Health Section at SCH, said the workshop was part of heat exhaustion programme launched earlier this month under the title “Beware of Heat Exhaustion”.
A team of inspectors representing SCH Occupational Health Section has been conducting field visits to work sites to raise awareness among workers about heat exhaustion and prevention methods, and distributing publications at sites in various languages. The SCH Health Education Section will organise awareness campaigns in workers’ native language, he added.
Hassan Al Sayyed Al Far, Occupational Health consultant at the SCH Occupational Health Section gave a presentation on heat exhaustion and the importance of knowing its types, means of prevention and how to read temperature indicators.
Lio Keen, Work environment specialist at Qatar Gas, explained the use of hygrometers and ways to adjust working hours and breaks according to hygrometer readings in order to avoid heat exhaustion.
Representatives from the National Pharmaceutical Company, the sponsor of the workshop, highlighted the health benefits of using oral rehydration solutions (ORS) which are used during emergencies to prevent dehydration and heat cramps and replace lost fluids in summer.
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