In a letter addressed to chief secretaries of all states and administrators of all union territories, labour secretary Arti Ahuja has asked them to issue directives to the occupier, employers, construction companies and industries to undertake necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme hot weather, the labour ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the minister, the letter lists out various strategic steps required to be taken by the states for the safety of the workers. Labour is in the concurrent list with the responsibility to implement the majority of the provisions of the labour laws lying with states.
The strategic measures suggested include re-scheduling of working hours for employees or workers, ensuring adequate drinking water facilities at work places, making provision for emergency ice packs and heat illness prevention material to construction workers, coordinating with health department to ensure regular health check-up of the workers while adhering to health advisory issued by ministry of health and family welfare.
“Allow work at slow pace in case the worker feels unwell, give adequate rest times and flexible schedules to let workers do the hardest work during the coolest parts of the day with,” it said.
Further, the ministry has advised states to assign a two-person crew to perform work during extremely hot temperatures while ensuring proper ventilation in underground mines and making the workers aware of dangers from excessive heat and humidity along with remedial measures.
The letter also impresses upon the need to issue instructions to the management of mines asking them to undertake immediate steps to make provision for rest areas, adequate quantity of cool water and electrolyte supplements near the workplace, it said.Apart from factories and mines, the Centre has also impressed upon the need to pay special attention to construction workers and brick kiln workers and to carry out adequate information dissemination at the Labour Chowks.
The recent forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) suggests normal to above normal minimum temperatures over most parts of north-west India, north-east India, parts of Central India, east coastal region and along the foothills of Himalayas.