Switzerland: Switzerland's Unia trade union has issued a call for stronger protections for construction workers facing extreme heat conditions. This comes after a survey indicated that a majority of workers are not consistently receiving the necessary breaks during heat waves.

According to Anadolu Agency, Unia conducted a survey in July involving 984 construction workers throughout Switzerland. The findings revealed that only 18% of these workers consistently received the mandated 15-minute hourly breaks when temperatures soared to 33°C (91.4°F). Alarmingly, 67% reported never receiving such breaks, while 15% only received them sporadically. The survey also highlighted that over two-thirds of the workers did not have their working hours adjusted to avoid the peak heat of the day.

Furthermore, the survey uncovered that 15% of the workers had either experienced a heat-related health issue or had witnessed a colleague suffer from one. Unia emphasized the critical nature of this issue, stating, 'The question is not whether working in extreme heat is tiring or unpleasant: it is health and safety at work that are at stake.'

In response to these findings, Unia is advocating for the inclusion of a 33°C (91.4°F) threshold in Switzerland's Construction Work Ordinance. The union proposes that strenuous outdoor work should be suspended when temperatures exceed this limit unless workers can be guaranteed 15-minute hourly breaks in air-conditioned environments. Additionally, Unia is urging authorities to increase workplace inspections and to reconsider construction deadlines and compensation policies to account for delays caused by extreme heat conditions.

Source: Anadolu Agency