DOHA: With the weather turning harsher, public health inspectors are planning to visit construction sites across the country to make workers toiling in the heat and humidity aware about how to avoid heat stress and heat stroke.
A senior public health official said that a large number of newly-arriving workers did not know the weather conditions here. They came from countries where temperatures were lower, so they were more prone to falling prey to heat stress and stroke.
Heat stroke poses the gravest threat to labourers, especially those who come from countries whose climatic conditions are different, said Dr Sheikha Al Anud bint Mohamed Al Thani, Head of Health Promotion and Non-communicable Diseases at the Supreme Council of Health (SCH).
She was addressing a workshop on heat stroke held by the SCH in coordination with the labour ministry. The workshop also discussed ways to protect workers exposed to hot and humid conditions at construction sites
The two-day event was attended by more than 200 health and safety officers from private companies.
The workshop was a part of a drive to create awareness about heat exhaustion on worksites, launched by the SCH under the slogan of “Protected Yourselves”.
She said a team of professional health inspectors at SCH would make field visits to worksites, especially construction sites where hundreds of labourers work, to educate them about heat stroke and ways to avoid it.
Summer work timings are followed here from June 15 to August 31 every year due to the extreme heat and humidity during that period.
Workers are not allowed to work on construction sites between 11.30 am and 3 pm when summer work timings are in force under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour.
The Peninsula
