Doha, Qatar: As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen occupational safety and health and protect workers from risks associated with working in hot weather, the Ministry of Labour (MoL), represented by the Occupational Safety and Health Department, organised a series of specialised awareness seminars on heat stress prevention.
The seminars were held in collaboration with a number of private sector companies, including Al Gharafa Trading & Contracting Company, United Development Company (UDC), GEC Contracting, ALCAT Contracting, Gulf Traffic Technologies, and Mekdam Technical Services, as part of the Ministry’s annual summer campaign to raise awareness of heat stress risks. The initiative was also organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health and the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund.
The seminars targeted workers and employers’ representatives, focusing on raising awareness among both workers and employers of the health risks associated with direct exposure to high temperatures. They also highlighted best preventive practices and the measures required to reduce occupational injuries and illnesses related to heat stress.
The Ministry noted that promoting preventive awareness is one of the key pillars in reducing workplace injuries and occupational diseases. It added that the cooperation with private sector companies reflects a growing awareness of the importance of adopting and embedding a culture of occupational safety and health across workplaces.
The Ministry also stressed that protecting workers and safeguarding their well-being is a shared responsibility requiring close cooperation between government entities and the private sector. It emphasised that providing a safe working environment not only protects the workforce but also contributes to higher productivity and supports sustainability across all economic sectors.
The Ministry called on all companies and establishments operating in the State to actively participate in the seminars and awareness programmes organised under the Heat Stress Prevention Campaign and to benefit from their educational and training content, which is designed to enhance understanding of the risks associated with working in hot weather and the measures required to minimise them. It added that these events provide an important opportunity to exchange expertise and promote best practices in occupational safety and health, thereby strengthening compliance with legislation and reducing the risks workers may face while performing their duties.
The seminars featured awareness presentations and practical guidance on the symptoms of heat stress, its health complications, methods of prevention, and procedures for responding to emergency cases. They also explained the legal requirements and preventive measures that must be observed during the implementation of Ministerial Decision No. (17) of 2021 regulating working hours in open workplaces during the summer period.
