Authorities urge to follow ‘20% rule’ in summer

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Ministry of Labour (MoL) jointly have issued several safety measures and precautions to keep peo...

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Ministry of Labour (MoL) jointly have issued several safety measures and precautions to keep people safe during summer months and prevent heat-related illness.

Importantly the Ministries have indicated that new and returning workers need to build tolerance to heat (acclimatize) and take frequent breaks.

In the social media awareness campaign MoPH and MoL have urged to follow the “20% rule” which insists that on the first day of work not more than 20% of the shift’s duration at full intensity in the heat. Then increase the duration of time at full intensity by no more than 20% a day until workers are used to working in the heat.

The term “acclimatization” means that the body gradually adapts and tolerates higher levels of heat stress. Workers who are new to working in warm environments may not be acclimatized to heat. Their bodies need time to adapt to working in hot conditions.

Meteorology Department (QMD) has predicted that the daytime temperature will range between 37 Celsius and 43 Celsius and classified as hot and very hot conditions today and tomorrow.