Rising heat brings back calls for restrictions on working hours

With the return of high temperatures, the risk to workers who spend most of their time under the sun’s rays is also increasing, especially those in the construction sector.

For this reason, the Union of Independent Trade Unions has requested that the Ministry of Health’s decision be put back into effect, which, among other things, provided for restrictions on working hours and leave from work for certain categories.

Workplace safety expert Arian Ibishi describes extreme temperatures as a serious risk to workers’ health and safety, while also emphasizing the obligations employers have toward them.

“Ensuring sufficient drinking water must be key, along with regular breaks at workplaces where there can also be cool shade, and avoiding heavy work during the work process,” Ibishi said.

Family doctor Rushit Ismajli also spoke about the consequences that heat can bring, mentioning other professions that may also be affected by high temperatures.

“Those who work in construction, in agriculture, or even in enclosed spaces, in kitchens, this too can cause them to suffocate due to the lack of evaporation, the inability to disperse the heat; it can cause dizziness, nausea, or in extreme cases even loss of consciousness,” Ismajli said.

According to Ismajli, in addition to workers directly exposed to the sun, other categories may also face health problems.

“We usually talk about the age groups that are most at risk, such as children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses, especially hypertension, but those at greatest risk are construction workers because they remain in high temperatures,” Ismajli added.

In the past two years, the Ministry of Health, mainly during the month of July, had imposed restrictive measures, banning work from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Under a decision by this institution, pregnant women were exempted from work, while working hours were reduced for citizens with chronic illnesses.

The Ministry of Health told Dukagjini that so far it has not received recommendations from the National Institute of Public Health to take such measures.

Meanwhile, high temperatures have already affected several countries in Europe, where fatalities have also been reported.