New heat stress guidance to be issued before summer 2019
Heat stress guidance and a new labour inspection policy to foster a national preventative safety and health culture in Qatar.
In 2007, the Government adopted a law which restricts working hours during summer months. The new guidance recommends that all enterprises assess the risk of heat stress in their own operations, and adopt comprehensive heat stress mitigation plans.
Speaking today at the 3rd conference on Occupational Safety and Health in the State of Qatar, HE Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs said:
“The Guidance on Heat Stress will support enterprises to adopt holistic responses suited to operations in all sectors and will keep workers safe during the summer. We encourage all companies to follow the new guidance and the Labour Inspection Department stands ready to provide assistance and advice.”
To ensure legislation, including on heat stress, is properly applied and enforced, ADLSA has also launched a new Labour Inspection Policy. Developed by ADLSA with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) the policy emphasizes the role of the Department to prevent occupational accidents, diseases and fatalities.
“The Guidance on Heat Stress is part of a shift towards a more risk-based approach to occupational safety and health that will benefit workers and employers alike. Meanwhile, the new Labour Inspection Policy provides strategic direction to the Labour Inspection Department helping it further support the State of Qatar’s ambitious labour reform agenda,” said Corinne Vargha, Director of the International Labour Standards Department of the International Labour Organization.
The 3rd conference on Occupational Safety and Health in the State of Qatar was organized by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs in partnership with the International Labour Organization to celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work. It also marked the end of ‘OSH month’ which saw over 20 companies and organizations hold OSH-related events during April involving more than 15,000 workers.
For more information please contact Steve Needham Tel: +974 50069011 Email needham@ilo.org