JAMMU, MAY 20: Labour Commissioner Jammu & Kashmir today issued a detailed advisory for safeguarding workers and labourers against prevailing and anticipated heat wave conditions in coming days. The advisory aims to ensure protection of workers engaged in factories, construction sites, brick kilns, transport, agriculture and other outdoor or heat-exposed occupations across the Union Territory.
The Labour Commissioner has directed all Inspectors of Factories and Assistant Labour Commissioners to ensure effective dissemination and implementation of preventive measures in all establishments under their jurisdiction.
The advisory calls upon employers and managements to reschedule working hours, wherever feasible, to minimize workers’ exposure during peak heat hours. Employers have also been advised to ensure adequate availability of safe drinking water, shaded rest areas, ventilation and cooling arrangements at workplaces. Provision of first-aid facilities, ORS/electrolyte supplements and periodic health monitoring of workers has also been emphasized.
Further, managements of factories, construction establishments and other heat-exposed sectors have been advised to undertake strenuous work during comparatively cooler hours of the day, provide shaded shelters near workplaces and create awareness among workers regarding symptoms of heat stress, preventive measures and emergency response mechanisms.
The Labour Commissioner has stressed special protection for vulnerable sections including construction workers, brick-kiln workers, migrant workers, casual labourers and daily wagers. Field officers and employers have been directed to sensitize workers regarding heat exhaustion, hydration, use of protective clothing and coping measures during extreme heat conditions.
The Labour Commissioner further directed all concerned officers to conduct regular inspections to ensure strict compliance of the advisory and to give wide publicity to the instructions among employers and workers. It was reiterated that any laxity in implementation of these directions shall be viewed seriously.
