Doha, Qatar: As the ban on working in open spaces comes to an end yesterday, September 15, the Ministry of Labour (MoL) has reaffirmed that the end of the summer restriction does not mean an end to preventive measures, stressing the need for employers and workers to continue adhering to occupational safety and health requirements.
Under the message “Heat fades... Safety stays,” the ministry urged workplaces to maintain safety practices and take the necessary preventive measures to protect workers and ensure a safe and sustainable working environment. The ministry’s reminder comes as Qatar concludes the annual period during which working in exposed outdoor locations is restricted during the hottest hours of the summer. It stressed that worker safety must remain a priority at all times, particularly as temperatures can continue to pose occupational risks beyond the formal restriction period.
Throughout the summer, the Ministry of Labour stepped up awareness efforts aimed at preventing heat stress and strengthening occupational safety practices among workers and employers.
As part of its annual heat-stress awareness campaign, the ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Department organised a series of specialised awareness seminars in July in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health and the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.
The seminars focused on the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, the symptoms and complications of heat stress, preventive practices and the appropriate response to emergencies. They also provided guidance on the legal requirements and preventive measures that workplaces must follow during the application of Ministerial Decision No. 17 of 2021 regulating working hours in open spaces during the summer.
The ministry has emphasised that raising preventive awareness is a key pillar in reducing workplace injuries and occupational diseases. Its awareness programmes also seek to help companies establish a stronger safety culture and ensure that workers are equipped with the knowledge needed to recognise and respond to heat-related risks.
The ministry has also stressed that protecting workers is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation between government bodies, employers and workers. Beyond protecting workers from heat-related risks, the ministry has linked occupational safety to broader efforts to create an attractive, safe and sustainable working environment, in line with the human development priorities of QNV 2030.
