Doha, Qatar: As part of several initiatives taken by the authorities to keep people safe during summer months and prevent heat related illness, Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) together with the Ministry of Labour have issued several safety measures and precautions yesterday.
As temperatures and humidity rise during the summer, MoPH has highlighted several measures to prevent heat illness at work. Through its social media accounts, the Ministry has urged people to prevent health illnesses at work, saying outdoor and indoor heat exposure could be dangerous. Urging people to ease into work, the Ministry has said, “New and returning workers need to build tolerance to heat (acclimatise and take frequent breaks).”
“Follow the 20% Rule. On the first day, work no more than 20% of the shift’s duration at full intensity in the heat. Increase the duration of time at full intensity by no more than 20% a day until workers are used to working in the heat,” it added.
The Ministry also shared first aid steps and signs of a medical emergency for heat illness. The signs of a medical emergency include abnormal thinking or behaviour, slurred speech, seizures and loss of consciousness.
In the Ministry’s instructions it has urged people to watch for any other signs of heat illness and act quickly. It says that if a worker experiences headache or nausea, weakness or dizziness, heavy sweating or hot, dry skin, elevated body temperature, thirst and decreased urine output, the person should be given water to drink, remove unnecessary clothing, move the person to a cooler area and cool with water, ice, or a fan and do not leave alone and seek medical care if needed.
It said during an emergency situation due to health related illness, people should call 999 immediately, cool the worker right away with water or ice, and stay with the worker until help arrives.
