Weather conditions and accident risk
Summer weather conditions, characterised by heat waves, increase the risk of injury for workers exposed to heat stressThis phenomenon requires theadoption of specific preventive measures to protect the health of workers, especially in the agricultural, horticultural and construction sectors, including road construction.
In the construction sector, heat risk prevention takes on fundamental importance. inspectionswhich can also involve NIL (Labor Inspection Units) he Provincial Commands of the Carabinieriaim to verify that in the Risk Assessment Documents (DVR) and that the Operational Safety Plans include effective measures against heat stress.
Verification of prevention measures and sanctions
The inspectors who will carry out these summer inspections will pay particular attention to the presence in the Risk Assessment Document (DVR), in the Safety and Coordination Plan (PSC) and in the Operational Safety Plan (POS), of the heat risk assessment and of the prevention and protection measures planned and used.
During inspections, if a lack of specific risk assessment or preventive measures is found, inspectors can issue prescription reports (pursuant to art. 181, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree no. 81/2008) and, in the most serious cases, order the immediate suspension of work. In this case, the recovery of work activities will be subject to the adoption of all necessary measures. I in charge who fail to monitor compliance with company health and safety regulations may also be subject to sanctions.
The results of the inspections will be collected and monitored to ensure effective and coordinated action.
Responsibility
In temporary or mobile construction sites, the Safety Coordinator must include in the PSC the assessment of microclimatic risk and ensure the application of prevention measures by the executing companies. In the event of weather conditions that represent a serious and imminent danger to the health of workers, the Coordinator has the task of suspending the work.
The contractor companies must verify the safety conditions of the assigned works and the congruence of the POS with the PSC. In case of non-compliance, prescription reports may be issued.
Regional controls and blocking of activities
The checks must take into account the regional ordinances that impose restrictions on sectors that operate predominantly outdoors. The regions that have issued ordinances regarding climate risk so far include Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily and Tuscany.
The CNR website worklimate.itfurthermore, provides a daily risk mapindicating the areas and periods critical for prolonged exposure to the sun, during which a ban on external work activities may be imposed.
