Italian
The president of the Veneto Region, Alberto Stefani, with a specific ordinance, has provided for the integration with the extension to additional categories of the provisions of an urgent and contingent nature regarding the health of workers, adopted with the previous ordinance of June 16
IVeneto – Due to the increasing risk of thermal stress caused by the prolonged high-temperature weather conditions over the past few weeks, the President of the Veneto Region Alberto Stefani has ordered the integration of measures related to work activities carried out in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, as well as in outdoor construction sites and quarries under prolonged exposure to high temperatures, extending them to all work activities carried out in road construction sites, in yard logistics, and in the delivery of goods on behalf of others, in urban areas, using bicycles or two-wheeled motor vehicles.
It is, in fact, work that is carried out essentially outdoors without the possibility for workers to take shelter from the sun and heat during times of the day characterized by a significant rise in temperature.
The ordinance also extends the provisions to work activities carried out in indoor locations for the production of artistic glass. These activities, in fact, involve unique challenges such as continuous exposure to radiant heat, as operators work constantly near high-temperature melting furnaces. Therefore, the presence of an extreme microclimate in the work environments due to rising summer temperatures results in heat levels in indoor spaces that can become extremely dangerous for health, safety, and security.
The document, moreover, recommends that employers assess the reorganization of working hours within the organization.
Summer Rules
The new measure, in effect from July 2 to August 31, prohibits work activities under prolonged sun exposure from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM throughout the regional territory in areas or zones affected by work activities carried out in road construction sites, logistics yards, and the delivery of goods on behalf of others, in urban areas, using bicycles or two-wheeled motor vehicles that involve prolonged sun exposure.
Furthermore, the same provisions apply in the places of production of artistic glass that expose workers to severe thermal environments. All of this is relevant on days and in areas of the regional territory where the risk prediction system developed by the Worklimate project (INAIL-CNR) indicates a “high” risk level (12:00 PM) for workers exposed to the sun and engaged in intense physical activity.
The ordinance confirms the application in cases where, despite the adoption of preventive measures provided by current regulations and regional guidelines, significant risks to the health of workers from heat exposure remain. Any company agreements that provide equivalent or more protective measures for workers remain valid.
The Region also recommends the use of the Guidelines in all outdoor activities and in non-air-conditioned indoor environments affected by external weather conditions. Public utility interventions, civil protection, and safeguarding public safety carried out by Public Administrations, public service concessionaires, and their contractors are exempt from the ban, provided that adequate organizational and safety measures are adopted to reduce the risk of heat exposure by employers.
