Safety and Health Measures to Prevent and Control Heat Stress at the Workplace

The Department of Labor and Employment recently issued Labor Advisory No. 08, Series of 2023, (“Advisory”) which shall cover all employers and workplaces in the private sector and their workers. This was issued to ensure the safety and health of workers exposed to extreme heat, pursuant to Article 168 of the Labor Code, as renumbered. 

Accordingly, the Advisory directs the employers to institute the following provisions to mitigate extreme heat at work:

1. Assess the risk of exposure of workers to extreme heat vis-à-vis their existing comorbidities (e.g., hypertension and kidney diseases) and implement appropriate control measures such as:
   
   
   1. Elimination of heat and humidity in workplaces through effective ventilation and heat insulation in all areas with workers;
   2. Adjustment of rest breaks or work locations to allow recovery from heat exposure;
   3. Provision of temperature-appropriate uniforms and personal protective equipment in the form of hats, goggles with protection against ultraviolet rays or comfortable light material long-sleeve t-shirts; and
   4. Provision of free and adequate drinking water at the workplace with a directive for drinking at least 2 to 3 liters daily.
   
   
2. Implement, based on workplace assessment, information and advocacy campaigns on symptoms and how to address heat stress.
   
   
3. Establish procedures and information networks to address heat-related emergencies.

Finally, the Advisory allows the employers and the workers to agree to adopt a flexible work arrangement to limit exposure to extreme heat and strenuous activities, by adjusting the work hours while maintaining the total number of work hours within the day or week until such time that the weather condition has improved.