Protect workers' health on hot days

In recent days, the outdoor temperature has increased, from 36 - 38 degrees Celsius, sometimes even up to 40 degrees Celsius, making many workers tired and exhausted, especially those who have to work outdoors. Therefore, protecting the health of workers during hot days has been and is being given top priority by units and businesses.

Due to the production characteristics of the Sin Quyen Copper Mine Branch, Lao Cai - VIMICO, workers in the workshops are greatly affected by the weather, especially those who often have to work outdoors in the mining area and open-pit mine waste dump. Hot weather, with temperatures reaching 39 - 40 degrees Celsius, has reduced the working spirit of workers, significantly affecting labor productivity.

Mr. Bui Nam Thai, a worker at the Repair Team, Transport Workshop, said: I have been working here for more than 10 years, but there has never been a summer as hot and early as this year. The average temperature in recent days has reached 38-39 degrees Celsius, sometimes even reaching 40 degrees Celsius, while when vehicles are brought into the workshop for repair, the heat from the operating machinery and equipment pushes the temperature up even higher, making repairs even more difficult. There is no other way, we have to wait for the machinery and equipment to "cool down" before starting the repair.

Faced with the difficulties faced by workers due to the heat, the Transport Workshop (Branch of Sin Quyen Copper Mine, Lao Cai - VIMICO) has had many solutions to avoid the heat and protect the health of workers. Mr. Vu Duc Trinh, Manager of the Transport Workshop, said: The workshop has 220 staff and workers, of which 206 are direct workers, including 180 drivers and 26 repairmen. While the drivers benefit from the cooling system of modern equipment equipped on the vehicle, the repair workers have to face and suffer great impacts of the weather.

Faced with the intense heat, the Workshop has added an industrial fan system and adjusted working hours accordingly without affecting labor productivity. Accordingly, shortening working hours during peak heat, extending working hours in the afternoon and increasing night shifts. When the temperature rises too high, heavy work such as changing tires, repairing shock absorbers, hubs, and engines will be done entirely during the night shift, while the day shift will only do light work so as not to affect health.

Not only the Transport Workshop, but also the Mining Workshop and Mineral Selection Workshop (Sin Quyen Copper Selection Mine Branch, Lao Cai - VIMICO) are urgently implementing preventive measures to protect the health of workers in the current hot weather. Accordingly, the workshops have increased fans, provided cool air systems to each worker's position, used air conditioning systems (if possible); used supporting machinery and equipment (pulleys, vehicles for transporting heavy objects, etc.) to reduce heavy work for workers.

Proactively change working hours to suit the work of workers who have to work outdoors; rotate work between workers working in hot and non-hot locations (if possible) to reduce the time workers are exposed to high temperatures while working.

Mr. Tran Trong Quynh, Deputy Director of Sin Quyen Copper Mine Branch, Lao Cai - VIMICO affirmed: With the motto "Health of workers is the most important", therefore, during the peak hot days, the Branch has directed the workshops to strictly arrange reasonable working hours, limiting the arrangement of workers to work outdoors from 12:00 to 14:00 on extremely hot days.

Along with that, fully equip personal protective equipment and heat protection equipment (protective clothing, hats, conical hats, shoes, boots, etc.); improve meal quality, increase dishes suitable for hot weather, ensure food hygiene and safety; provide enough cooling drinks (heat-clearing tea, black bean tea, soy milk, fruit juice, etc.).

Strengthen the cooling system (air conditioners, fans, industrial fans, etc.), sunshade and insulation equipment (canopies, curtains, etc.) at work locations with high temperatures (air compressors, power stations, processing areas related to welding and metal cutting stages with gas and oxygen); spray water to cool the roof of the factory; increase the frequency of watering to prevent dust on the routes transporting soil, rock, ore, and the section of Provincial Road 156 passing through the mine; operate the misting system to suppress dust and collect dust installed at the mineral processing plant;

An important solution that the Branch focuses on implementing is to organize training, education, and widely disseminate information on the signs, symptoms, and risks of occupational heat stress; and first aid when a colleague faints or is in heat shock for workers.

During the hot days, for workers working in tunnel brick factories, it is really a challenge and extremely hard. Due to the nature of the work, in the brick factory, the actual temperature is always 5 to 7 degrees Celsius higher than the outside temperature. Most of the brick making stages from transporting raw materials, shaping, stacking, loading and unloading... are greatly affected by the weather.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thin, Manager of Tan An Tunnel Brick Factory (Tan An Construction Ceramic Materials Production Joint Stock Company) said: Summer is the most difficult and arduous time for brick factory workers. Therefore, the factory has proactively taken many solutions to improve working conditions, ensuring the health of workers during the hot season. During peak heat waves, the factory has invested in strengthening the cooling fan system in production departments; at the same time, adjusting working hours to suit the weather, working earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon so that workers do not have to work during peak hot hours. In addition, the factory continuously replenishes drinking water at work locations, supports soft drinks, and provides full protective clothing.

Enterprises and production units in the province have been having many solutions to improve working conditions and protect workers' health during hot days.

Not only the Sin Quyen Copper Mine Branch, Lao Cai - VIMICO or Tan An Tunnel Brick Factory, but most of the enterprises and production units in the province have been having many solutions to improve working conditions and protect the health of workers during the peak hot days. The specific and practical actions of the units and enterprises have shown their concern and care for the health, improved the material and spiritual life of workers, ensured stable production and work efficiency. This is also the motivation for each worker to actively work and produce, contributing to the development of the unit and enterprise.

Some necessary notes when working outdoors in hot weather:

Experts recommend that people who have to work in hot weather should arrange their working time during the coolest times of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon. Limit working time in high temperature environments. If forced to work, do not work too long in hot environments, avoid excessive physical activities. Periodically, after about 45 minutes to 1 hour of work, rest in a cool place for a period of 15 - 20 minutes.

Minimize the area of ​​sunlight exposure on the body, especially the shoulders and neck. Use appropriate personal protective equipment when working outdoors in the sun such as protective clothing, hats, caps, glasses. Wear loose, cool and sweat-absorbent clothing. You can use additional sunscreen. Do not use alcoholic beverages. You need to drink water regularly during work. In particular, you need to provide adequate nutrients and vitamins to keep the body healthy and increase resistance.

Source link: https://baolaocai.vn/bao-ve-suc-khoe-nguoi-lao-dong-trong-nhung-ngay-nang-nong-post368697.html