In view of the high temperatures and the special conditions prevailing and the relevant forecasts of the Department of Meteorology, the Department of Labor Inspection (DOLE) of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance informs employers and self-employed persons that, in view of the warning issued by the Department of Meteorology for extremely high temperatures at an orange danger level, it is required to stop, between the hours of 12:00-16:00, provided that the warning is in force,
all outdoor heavy and moderate work, and
the work of transporting products and/or delivering products using two-wheeled vehicles (e.g. motorcycle, moped, bicycle) or personal mobility devices (scooters, e-scooters), such as the transport and/or delivery of products/food/mail and/or other activities.
The orange danger level warning and work stoppage concerns the interior (areas with an altitude of less than 300 meters, which are more than 10 kilometers from the coastline) and the highest mountains (mountainous areas with an altitude of more than 1150 meters).
For any other case (light work and in areas where the orange risk level does not apply), the TEE reminds that, based on the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (Code of Practice for Heat Stress of Workers) Decrees of 2014, 2020 and 2023 (K.D.P. 291/2014, K.D.P. 206/2020 and K.D.P.231/2023):
Both employers and self-employed persons must measure the parameters (temperature and relative humidity) that contribute to heat stress in the areas where work is carried out. According to the prevailing conditions of air temperature (in the shade) and relative humidity, they must adjust their work accordingly and apply a change of each task or rest or interruption of work, depending on the type of work performed, as well as other appropriate and sufficient measures (organizational and technical) to avoid or reduce heat stress, such as:
Organizing frequent short breaks to rest in a shady, cool place or a properly air-conditioned space or in a space where fans are used, where possible.
Formation/selection of a shady area or construction of suitable shelters for carrying out the work, where possible.
Rotation of workers at work depending on the type of activity performed.
Avoiding, where possible, strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day (12:00-16:00).
Provision of cool drinking water (temperature 10-15oC) to the workers.
Issuance and use by employees of appropriate headgear.
Use by workers of light, loose, breathable clothing such as cotton items and use of appropriate sunglasses.
Avoiding large meals or sugary foods or ingesting alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
Training of employees.
According to the provisions of the Code of Practice (Tables 12 and 13), for temperature conditions of 39° to 46°, work must be interrupted when the following or higher percentages of relative humidity prevail, depending on the type and severity of the work:
Working Load Temperature (in shade) oC
39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
Light: ≥ 53% ≥ 48% ≥ 43% ≥ 39% ≥ 34% ≥ 29% ≥ 25 ≥ 23
Moderate: ≥ 48% ≥ 43% ≥ 38% ≥ 34% ≥ 29% ≥ 26% ≥ 22 ≥ 19
Heavy: ≥ 42% ≥ 37% ≥ 33% ≥ 28% ≥ 25% ≥ 21% ≥ 18 ≥ 15
Workload Examples
Light Office work, janitorial work, bench work with light tools, routine driving.
Moderate Fencing, concreting, bricklaying, plastering, painting, flooring, tiling, carving, forging, transporting light objects, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, mechanical work, aluminum installation, railing installation, asphalt paving work carried out by mechanical means.
Heavy Intense manual labor, processing and placing reinforcement, assembling/disassembling molds, digging or breaking hard materials with mechanical tools/devices/machines weighing more than 15 kg, asphalt paving work carried out by manual means.
For more information, interested parties can consult the TEE website in the Thermal Stress section and/or contact the Inspectors at the local District Offices.
Department offices at the following telephone numbers:
Nicosia: 22879191
Limassol: 25827200
Larnaca: 24805327
Paphos: 26822715
Famagusta: 23819750
