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Mid-day break takes heat off UAE labourers

ABU DHABI — Working in the sweltering summer heat takes its toll on outdoor workers, but while cases of heat-related sickness occur during all times of the day — and not just in the afternoons — a recent analysis by health authorities has revealed that the numbers are low during the morning and evening hours compared to the number of incidents during mid-day when the summer rays are at its sharpest.

Lauding the recent decision of Dr. Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, to impose a four-hour mid-day break for labourers, Dr. Ali Hassan Al Marzouqi, Director of Preventive Medicines Department, Abu Dhabi, said the ban will help check the large number of heat-related cases during the summer months that put needless pressure on the country's health facilities.

"We’ve found that most of the cases recorded last year took place during mid-day and hence, the decision to ban outdoor work from 12.30pm to 4.30pm was both sound and timely. It will help protect the thousands of construction labourers from exposure to the searing mid-day heat," Dr. Marzouqi said.

According to a statement issued by the Shaikh Khalifa Medical Centre, in August last, the Centre received over 272 cases of heat-fatigue with an average of nine cases per day. The highest number ever recorded on a day stood at 40 and the cases ranged from the less dangerous heat-exhaustion ones to heat-strokes that could have proved fatal had emergency treatment not been given.

While over 35 people had been admitted to the emergency section in August 2005, between 11am and 1pm, the numbers were comparatively low between seven and nine in the morning and from five to seven in the evening with only around five to six patients being wheeled in for treatment.

While cases of heat-exhaustion and heat-fatigue ranged between eight and twelve from 9am to 11am and from 3pm to 5pm, the highest number of patients recorded was between 33 to 38, all admitted during the peak afternoon hours.

Dr Ghassam Shakker of the Preventive Medicine Department said that a study conducted by him had recommended the banning of outdoor work during the peak summer hours, though incidents of heat-related illness can take place at any time of the day.