Extreme heat: what precautions to take at work?

So the employer must

• Set up an appropriate organization to limit the exposure of workers to high heat (staggered working hours, more frequent breaks, etc.) and favor teleworking when possible;
• Provide employees with drinking and fresh water;
• Ensure that the wearing of individual protection is compatible with high heat;
• Control the proper renewal of air in closed rooms, and monitor the temperature of the rooms;
• Provide employees with means of protection against high heat and/or cooling;
• Report any abnormal situation to the labor inspection system.

Concerning outdoor workers, the employer must arrange their workstation so that they are protected from high heat as far as possible. It must also provide a room allowing the reception of the workers in conditions preserving their safety and their health: in the absence of such a room, worksite schedules must be planned. Finally, each worker must be provided with at least 3 liters of water per day.

If Météo France triggers red vigilance in a department, the employer must reassess daily the risks of exposure for each of his employees according to the evolution of the temperature and the nature of the work to be carried out. If the precautions taken are insufficient to guarantee the health and safety of the workers, the activity must be suspended. Companies can then resort to the partial activity system or the recovery of lost hours. Regarding the construction sector, employers can benefit from the “bad weather” system.

The labor inspectorate remains mobilized to check that these precautionary measures are properly applied, particularly in the construction and public works sector. Occupational health services are also on alert to help employers take the necessary preventive measures.

For more information and to download the information tools on the prevention of risks related to high temperatures at work, consult the website of the Ministry of Labor.