Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released a labor advisory on Tuesday, Oct. 27, outlining safety protocols for workers in times of extreme heat.
Labor Advisory No. 20 seeks to guide employers in safeguarding their workers from heat-related illnesses due to the ongoing El Niño event.
Employers are required to conduct and document hazard and risk assessments to address heat stress and El Niño-related workplace risks.
They should also monitor weather conditions, heat index data, and five-day heat index forecasts.
The DOLE also directed employers to ensure compliance with government contributions and track work-related heat illnesses in medical logs and annual medical reports.
In addition, the Labor Department provided heat index-based guidelines for employers ranging from caution to extreme danger levels.
Caution level heat index (27°C–32°C) requires the availability of safe drinking water, ventilated break spots, and regular hydration among workers; extreme caution level (33°C–41°C) entails routine rest and the supply of appropriate protective gear; danger level (42°C–51°C) prompts the implementation of flexible work arrangements to limit heat exposure; and extreme danger levels (52°C and higher) necessitate re-evaluation of tasks and possible rescheduling or work relocation.
Last week, DOLE issued Labor Advisory No. 19, centered on workers’ compensation for heat-related illnesses.
