Preventing occupational accidents
For outdoor work
- Make sure there is enough drinking water at the right temperature available. Water must be available in sufficient quantities to compensate for water loss.
Drinking small amounts regularly is recommended, ensuring you drink several times a day before feeling thirsty. - Arrange or set up shaded areas and, if possible, well ventilated areas for use during breaks.
- Reduce jobs that require sustained physical activity and prolonged exposure to or contact with metal sheets, concrete or tarmac surfaces in direct sunlight.
- Request mechanical assistance for strenuous jobs such as heavy lifting, etc.
- Ensure that the use of personal protective equipment is compatible with high temperatures (plant protection treatment, forestry work, pruning, etc.). If possible, adapt personal protective equipment to the heat: for example, wearing safety shoes rather than safety boots.
- Ensure that appropriate clothing is worn.
- For construction sites that do not require protective clothing, provide headgear to protect the neck; loose-fitting, lightweight, airy and light-coloured clothing; sunglasses that filter sunlight; sunscreen etc.
- Use air-conditioned vehicles where possible.
At the workplace
- Monitor the ambient temperature, especially in enclosed spaces.
- Install equipment that gives off heat in a dedicated, ventilated room, insulate walls or hot pipes, capture heat or hot vapour emissions, etc.
- Request measures to help combat heat: fans, air-conditioned areas or ventilated and accessible spaces.
- Drink sufficient quantities of cool drinking water on a regular basis and ask for access to a water point if you do not have one.
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