Safety measures to protect professionals from the heat in workshops during the summer
With the arrival of the first heat wave and with the aim of increasing safety in the workshop during the summer, Conepa and its member associations have carried out a campaign with recommendations to be followed by professionals during working hours.
In light of the high temperatures that are beginning to arrive, the entity has recalled the regulations in force that govern the minimum health and safety conditions in the workshop, as well as some of the updates it includes, among which are the environmental conditions in outdoor work and preventive measures: the prohibition of carrying out certain tasks during the hours of the day when it is very hot if the protection of the mechanics cannot be guaranteed in another way, for example.
Recommendations from Conepa and its partners to ensure occupational safety in high temperature conditions
The first piece of advice suggested by Conepa and its associates is to contact external prevention services.
Preventive measures to reduce the effects of heat at work
Their technicians, who visit the workshops, must take into account the working conditions in each one of them in order to then establish the preventive measures that must be applied, in order to reduce as much as possible the consequences of working in such high temperatures. For example, a motorcycle workshop with air conditioning will not be the same as a workshop with a paint booth.
Alternatives to ensure occupational safety in hot conditions
Other alternatives to help ensure safety despite the heat are:
- Time modification: Open the workshop earlier and take advantage of the first hours of the day, normally with lower temperatures.
- Avoid as much as possible going out into uncovered areas with excessive heat during the central hours of the day, except in very specific situations.
- Provide the worker with appropriate clothing.
- Provide means for workers to be able to hydrate with cold water.
In the specific case of roadside assistance services provided by many workshops, the situation is more complicated. However, Conepa points out that it can be helpful to rotate workers, and then take the vehicle to the workshop to carry out the necessary repairs.
