The Odisha government on Monday issued a comprehensive set of heatwave advisories aimed at preventing heatstroke-related fatalities among the state’s labour force, as rising daytime temperatures signal an early onset of the summer season.
Anticipating a spike in severe weather conditions starting in April and beyond, the Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department has introduced a strategic framework of preventive measures. These guidelines are specifically designed to safeguard workers, with a primary focus on those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities.
According to the guidelines, the mandated safety protocols are scheduled to be in effect from April 1 to June 15. During this period, all employers have been strictly directed to halt physical labour between 11 am and 3 pm, identified as the peak period for extreme solar radiation and heat intensity.
The advisory has been issued to all departments of the state government, central government offices within the state, private sector employers, industrial units, commercial establishments, shop owners, and contractors.
Authorities have emphasised that work schedules must be recalibrated immediately to ensure that no labourer is exposed to life-threatening thermal stress during the most intense hours of the day.
In instances where work is deemed non-negotiable due to the essential nature of the service or urgent technical requirements, employers are mandated to implement rigorous precautionary measures to mitigate health risks.
These measures include ensuring the availability of safe and cool drinking water at worksites, provision of shaded rest areas, access to basic medical facilities, and distribution of oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets to workers.
The government aims to drastically reduce cases of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can prove fatal if medical intervention is delayed. To support this, a state-wide medical alert has been issued to Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs), Sub-Divisional Medical Officers (SDMOs), and medical personnel across Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Employees’ State Insurance hospitals have been asked to remain alert and prepared to handle heat-related illnesses and ensure timely treatment for affected individuals.
This proactive intervention reflects growing administrative concern over the vulnerability of daily wage earners and outdoor labourers to extreme climatic shifts, ensuring that economic activity does not come at the cost of human life.
