Heatwaves across India | Centre writes to states urging to safeguard outdoor workers

The measures suggested include slowing down the work pace, having two-person crews during extreme heat conditions, rescheduling work hours and making arrangements for adequate drinking water and resting places with sheds.

New Delhi: With heatwaves sweeping northern and central India, the Union government on Tuesday asked the states to take steps for safeguarding outdoor workers including those who work at construction sites and brick kilns from heat exposures.

The measures suggested by the government include slowing down the work pace, having two-person crews during extreme heat conditions, rescheduling work hours and making arrangements for adequate drinking water and resting places with sheds.

The advisory came on a day when the India Meteorological Department said heatwave conditions would continue in north west India for the next six days (till April 28) and in central India at least till April 26. Rains are expected only in the Northeast.

Maximum temperature is set to rise between 2-3 degrees Celsius in north-west India, Gujarat and central parts of the country in the next 2-5 days and there will not be any significant change in the subsequent few days. The rise in maximum temperature will be even higher in the east.

In the backdrop of such alarm, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has asked the states to issue directions to employers, occupiers, industries, and construction companies for implementing effective heatwave mitigation measures for workers.

The measures recommended by the ministry include rescheduling working hours to avoid peak heat times; ensuring access to adequate drinking water and providing shaded rest areas and ventilation or cooling at worksites.

The employers should also be advised to conduct regular health check-ups and create flexible work schedules, besides supplying emergency ice packs and heat illness prevention materials.

Special focus is to be given for workers in factories, construction sites, brick kilns, and mines.

The weather bureau considers a heatwave if the temperature of a place crosses 40 degrees Celsius in the plains and 30 degrees Celsius in the hills, and departure from normal temperature is between 4.5-6.4 degrees Celsius. If such conditions are seen at a place for two consecutive days, a heatwave is declared on the second day.

The Indian subcontinent has been experiencing higher temperatures that arrive earlier and stay for longer, and will likely continue to experience more frequent heat waves in the coming decades.

The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has noted that the mortality rates per million for heat waves have increased by 62.2% in the last four decades.

In addition to mortalities, extreme heat adds to the difficulties of the poor and marginalised people living in inadequately ventilated, hot, and crowded homes.