‘Start outdoor works at 3am’

Manama : Companies in Bahrain should consider starting its outdoor works early morning in order to protect their workers from heat-related illnesses, a prominent doctor opined.

“The timings change could help companies reduce the risk of workers suffering from heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, said Dr P. V. Cheriyan, who is the Chief Resident of the Accident & Emergency Department at Salmaniya Medical Complex. 

According to Dr P. V. Cheriyan, companies should consider starting its outdoor works as early as 3:00am to help workers finish their job before noon. 

“There are so many companies that have this sort of a system already in place. Works begin at 3:00 am and workers get off early. This way they do not have to work in multiple shifts, they can work one shift and it will be over,” said Dr Cheriyan 

“I wish more companies adopt this system,” he added. 

He further highlighted the benefits the companies would enjoy by implementing the one-shift system. 

According to him, the one-shift system will simply avoid the need for companies to arrange transportation back and forth to labour camps during breaks. 

“The temperatures are extremely high here and add to this the humidity the workers have to bear. It is extremely hot even outside the summer work ban hours. Keeping these things in mind, we should think of every way to make things easier for the workers,” he said. 

Dr P. V. Cheriyan has been working at the Accident & Emergency Department at Salmaniya Medical Complex for 38 years. 

Explaining the benefits of summer work ban, he said, “Cases related to heat-related illnesses have come down drastically since the time the government enforced the afternoon work ban during summer months.”

“But there are still more steps that can be taken to ensure the worker’s safety,” he added. 

Referring to the case of Mohammed Harris, who collapsed after suffering heatstroke on Sunday, the doctor said, “This shows that this is not something anyone should underestimate.”

“There is a lack of awareness among the workers and they may underestimate how difficult it is to work in the heat. 

“If their body is not acclimatised to the climate then they are not ready to work in the heat. Workers should know about this fact. They should be taught this before they even recruited,”  he stressed.