Irish workers might need to be given the right to work reduced hours during heatwaves, the Labour Party has said as the Irish weather turns to sunshine.
Ireland is set to sizzle in temperatures of up to 30°C this weekend.
While acknowledging that the warm weather will be a “novelty” for many people, Dublin Central TD Marie Sherlock warned there are “very real world consequences for those working in these temperatures”.
“Ironically, while Ireland has… regulations concerning minimum workplace temperatures of 17.5°C in the workplace, there are no maximum temperatures in place,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.
“Particularly when you think of those who have to work outside, like street cleaning or mining, very specific sectors like that.
“The critical issue is that we need to protect and ensure that there are protections in place for workers, that they are not unduly exposed to the extremes of weather.”
Irish weather
Deputy Sherlock added that when temperatures exceed 30°C, the risk of a workplace accident taking place increases by 5 -7%.
With climate change likely to make such days more common, she added the Government will need to consider changes to legislation.
People queuing for ice cream from an ice cream van on the beach at Portmarnock in Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com.“What I am suggesting is that we need to have regulations with regards to the conditions, such as the nature of temperature of work, whether it’s indoor or outdoor,” she said.
“In terms of air flow, humidity and temperature.
“It may be reduced hours, it may be earlier working hours, it may be flexibility in terms of people working from home.
“Maybe accommodation with regards to people commuting.”
Deputy Sherlock continued that most employers will take a “commonsense approach”, but new regulations will protect vulnerable employees being put at risk.
“[We need to avoid] a situation where a street cleaner or somebody else falls sick or collapses or, as we’ve seen in some countries, potentially dies,” she said.
“It’s just to make sure that workers in future are protected.”
Main image: The Forty Foot in Dublin. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie
