Employers warned vs heat’s effects
EXTREME heat has sent a number of workers to the hospital for dizziness, headache, and hypertension, according to labor leader Jose Sonny G. Matula who issued a reminder to employers this week that the labor force is protected by Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSH).
In an interview with BusinessWorld on Tuesday, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) president said his organization has been collecting reports on the effects of high temperatures and a heat index consistently above 40 degrees Celsius the past two weeks.
Mr. Matula warned employers that a recent study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found exposure to extreme weather events and climate-related disasters can lead to or worsen mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide.
“Labor Advisory No. 03 (2016) states that PPE (personal protective equipment) for the head, body, and extremities must be provided, including hats, goggles or UV protective eyewear and comfortable, light long-sleeve t-shirts, to mitigate the effects of extreme heat at work,” the ILO study cited.
Mr. Matula called for coordination among groups and policymakers to protect Filipino workers bearing the heat.
“It is imperative that the tripartite parties — government, employers, and workers — collaborate promptly and effectively to combat the daily challenges posed by escalating heat waves and other consequences of climate change,” he said.
“Convening the NTIPC (National Tripartite Industrial Peace Councils) and cascading its policy directions and best practices to workplace OSH committees would be highly beneficial,” he added.
Under the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Advisory No. 17-2022, an employee may skip work due to extreme heat but won’t receive pay for the day. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
