Working in the heat. The head of the Sanitary Inspectorate on potential solutions

The Ministry of Labor wants to introduce changes to the regulations governing work during hot weather. The ministry is considering, among other things, introducing cooling breaks, shortening working hours or installing air conditioning in offices. READ MORE >>>

Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski, M.D., Chief Sanitary Inspector, noted during an interview on TVN24 that “in Poland we have quite limited legislation when it comes to working conditions in hot weather, and this is changing very rapidly.”

– When it comes to working outdoors, for example, in an open area that is not protected from sunlight, such physical activity is very dangerous to health, because physical effort plus high temperature very often has negative effects in the form of the so-called heat stroke, i.e. a situation when our circulatory system, our nervous system stops functioning well because thermoregulation fails – said Dr. Grzesiowski, pointing out that the human body “is designed” for short periods of stay in high temperatures. – Then our thermoregulation, thanks to sweating, constriction of skin vessels, protects us from excessive heat – he explained.

The professor noted that during such work, an additional factor influencing the overheating of the body is protective clothing that insulates the body.

When asked how to reconcile the interests of two parties – the employee who works in difficult conditions and the employer who organizes the work, Dr. Grzesiowski stated that it can be done and pointed to an interesting example.

– After all, we work underwater, we work in space, everything can be done, only the right conditions must be ensured, so if there is work to be done in the heat at noon and it cannot be done at another time, then we simply regulate it with working time, equipment and the possibility of rest. After all, these can be shifts even after an hour or an hour and a half and the next person enters this position, and the person who worked in the heat has, for example, an hour or half-hour break. It can be done – indicated the head of GIS.

– So it's not about life suddenly freezing at 12 o'clock and work freezing. It can't be done like that. There are jobs that have to be active 24/7, regardless of weather conditions. And it's only our task to create such a legal framework so that the employer has to provide people working in such difficult conditions with adequate comfort and time for rest, for regeneration – he emphasized.

Doctor Grzesiowski, when asked if there are any solutions that can be implemented “quickly, right now”, noted that if we want to “bypass” legislative process and not wait for laws and regulations, then “employees should simply come to an agreement with their employer.”

– So whether it's a trade union or some other formula should be used to ensure thermal comfort for employees in specific conditions, without waiting for legal changes. Such as water supplies, a place where they can rest, because it's also very important to have a trailer that's cool. During this time, an employee who has done some work, has warmed up a lot, can come in and cool down, can wash, can rest. Such conditions would be enough to ensure continuity of work – indicated the TVN24 guest.

The head of GIS pointed out that this is the employer's responsibility and pointed out that “after all, apart from the financial results of his company, he must take care of the employees, because a company without employees will go bankrupt.”

– So if an employee overheats, overexerts themselves, ends up in hospital with heatstroke, there is no employee. As a result, instead of doing some work, the company will have to look for a replacement. So there is absolutely a mutual interest here. The better shape our employee is in, the better they will function and the more work they will be able to do. So employers must understand that the more difficult the working conditions, the greater the employer's effort to balance these conditions with appropriate conditions for rest or regeneration – said Dr. Grzesiowski.

The head of GIS stated that currently “work is underway on solutions that will adapt working conditions to weather conditions, which are changing, and the law is lagging behind”. However, he added that it should be remembered that “regulations will not solve everything” – They will not solve every situation and it is necessary to reach an individual agreement with employers – he said.

– In my opinion, it should be like this: if there are toxic, harmful conditions at work, the employee goes to the employer, shows what conditions they work in, because often the employer or owner may not even be aware of the temperature (at their workstation – editor's note). So we need to measure this temperature, show how many degrees it is there and what can be done to reduce the discomfort of such work. And we will return to this topic when specifics appear, when these legal solutions are implemented – he emphasized.