Safety during summer hot period

Surely you all know the feeling when you are exhausted by high temperatures at the workplace in the summer.

How to deal with high temperatures.

Temperature is one of the factors of the working environment, which significantly affects people. The basic regulatory framework is established by Decree 99/2016 on the details of health protection against heat and cold stress at work. It determines 4 classes of work, optimal and permissible temperatures. The range of temperatures for individual jobs is large and there is no correct answer to the question: What is the optimal temperature at the workplace? Depending on the class of work, it ranges from 17-27°C. When it comes to microclimatic conditions, let’s remember that in addition to temperature, humidity and air flow speed are also important.

What meassures to implement?

Meassures to implemet for reducing heat load:

change in the duration of working hours (shortening of working hours is effective especially in the afternoon hours)

shifting the start of the work shift (e.g. the start of the work shift, e.g. from 6:00 a.m. instead of the usual 8:00 a.m.)

provision of breaks at work (temperature breaks especially in the afternoon hours at the time of the highest temperatures)

extending the break for rest and eating

staying in air-conditioned rooms

employees rotation

aircondition or forced ventilation

shading of windows and skylights

showering and cooling

suitable work clothes (dry, light, single-layer clothes, ideally made of natural materials to protect against direct sunlight, head protection and sunglasses when working outdoors)
healthy (light) food with a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins

Extremely warm days

An extremely warm day is a day in which the outside air temperature measured in the shade reached a value higher than 30 °C.

The drinking regime

Replenishment of a sufficient amount of fluids and minerals lost during work into the body. The water balance should consist of about 2.5 liters that we take in and give out. That much fluid is eliminated on average per day through urine, sweat, breathing and stool. Part of this amount can be metabolized by the body and kept in the body, but it is up to us to replenish the remaining part. We should consume at least 1.5 liters of water every day through food and directly in the form of liquids. This area is also regulated by the aforementioned decree.

Did you know?

The employer provides drinking water at the place of work or at another suitable place determined by the employer's internal regulations at his own expense. So is it necessary to process an internal regulation in connection with heat load?

Other meassures

The resulting temperature in buildings is mainly influenced by the technical solution. You will achieve the best results by using air conditioning. But even the right ventilation and shading regime can make a big difference. It is advisable to ventilate especially at night and in the morning, when temperatures are lower, and if the temperature is high outside, do not open windows and doors unnecessarily. Shading is of great importance, especially where intense sunlight and therefore also heat penetrates the sunny side of the building, skylights and the like.

MM Safety