ADOSH-SF Code of Practice 11.0 - Safety in the Heat

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Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 11.0 – Safety in the Heat
Version 4.0
July 2024

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 11.0 - Safety in the Heat
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency .......................................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements ................................................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................................. 6
3.2 Heat Stress Program Requirements .............................................................................................. 7
4. Record Keeping ............................................................................................................................................ 10
5. Document Amendment Record .............................................................................................................. 11

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 11.0 - Safety in the Heat
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all employers within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
that have employees working in high temperature environments. High temperature
environments includes both weather (working outside in summer months) and site
operations (furnaces, ovens, and other high temperature operations).
(b) This document is designed to incorporate requirements set by UAE and Abu Dhabi
Competent Authorities. If requirements of this document conflict with requirements
set by another regulatory authority, employers are required to follow the more
stringent requirement.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 11.0 - Safety in the Heat
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i)
ADOSH-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;
(ii)
ADOSH-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner and
Service Provider Registration.
(b) Appropriate training shall be given to all employees working in high temperature
environments in a language they can understand prior to starting work.
(c) General working in heat awareness shall be provided to all employees, in a language
they understand, throughout the summer months, as defined by Ministry of Labour
Decree’s. Awareness activities shall include:
(i) training on the hazards of working in heat;
(ii) information on the importance of maintaining good hydration and eating a well-
balanced diet;
(iii) recognizing the signs of heat illness;
(iv) appropriate information and awareness given to employees regarding heat as a
hazard and precautions to be taken to avoid heat related injuries and illnesses
(e.g. posters, information leaflets, training videos and presentations);
(v) information and awareness campaigns to raise and maintain awareness
amongst the workforce exposed to extreme heat conditions; and
(vi) displaying of posters illustrating monitoring of hydration status by urine color in
toilets and rest rooms (Example of a urine chart can be found in
ADOSH-SF –
Technical Guideline – Safety in the Heat).
(d) Within 10 days of starting employment and prior to the start of the defined summer
months, employees shall be trained on:
(i) how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat related illness in themselves
and others and how the body overheats;
(ii) the importance of drinking water (at least 2 litres every 2-3 hours) and the
addition of a little extra salt to meals;
(iii) how to self-monitor urine color to determine hydration levels;
(iv) the importance of acclimatization, work pacing, rest breaks and effects of
clothing on heat stress;
(v) the procedures to call for first aiders and/or medical assistance if experiencing
the symptoms of a heat related injury/illness; and
(vi) the requirements of the employer’s heat stress program.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 11.0 - Safety in the Heat
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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(e) Employers shall ensure managers and supervisors are appropriately trained on:
(i) how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and how the
body overheats;
(ii) the precautions to be taken for the prevention of heat related illness amongst
the workforce;
(iii) the importance of self-pacing and providing appropriate rest breaks for recovery;
(iv) the procedures to call for first aiders and/or medical assistance; and
(v) the requirements of the employer’s heat stress program.
(f) Employers shall ensure First Aiders are suitably trained on:
(i) how the body overheats and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat
related illness and its different types;
(ii) the precautions to be taken for the prevention of heat related illness;
(iii) the first aid treatment of the different types of heat related illness;
(iv) the procedures to call for medical assistance; and
(v) the requirements of the employer’s heat stress program.

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3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1 Employers
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.5.
(b) Employers shall ensure a risk assessment is performed in accordance with ADOSH-SF
– Element 2 – Risk Management to determine where heat stress hazards exist and who
is at risk from developing a heat related illness.
(c) Employers shall ensure a medical surveillance program in accordance with ADOSH-SF
– CoP 5.0 – Occupational Health Screening and Medical Surveillance is implemented to
evaluate employees working in high temperature environments to ensure they are
able to perform their assigned duties.
(d) Employers shall ensure engineering control measures are implemented to eliminate
the risk as far as reasonably practicable.
(e) Employers shall ensure an effective heat stress program in accordance with this CoP
is implemented for worksites where employees work in environments where high
temperatures and humidity may pose a health risk. Any worksite that has, or it is
reasonably foreseeable to have, a temperature at or above 35 degrees Celsius at any
time during a work shift, shall implement an effective heat stress program, unless they
can document through risk assessments and Thermal Work Limit (TWL) that there is
no risk to employees.
(f) Employer shall implement a process for assessing the environmental conditions and
comparing it to the TWL heat stress index and implementation of the requirements of
the relevant work zone control measures (refer to ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline –
Safety in the Heat for guidance on this requirement).
(g) Employers shall ensure worksites adhere to the UAE Ministry of Labour requirements
for a midday break during the summer months for employees working outside.
(h) Employer shall ensure employer supplied meals are evaluated so that they offer a
healthy balanced diet with appropriate nutrition and appropriate electrolytes and
calories to sustain work in high temperature environments.
(i) Employers shall ensure education is provided to employees on the hazards of
consuming of alcohol, tea, coffee and caffeinated drinks which can make them more
susceptible to heat related injuries and illnesses.
(j) Employers shall ensure appropriate availability of appropriate fluids (e.g. potable
water) for the employees to maintain hydration levels, in accordance with ADOSH-SF
– CoP 8.0 – General Workplace Amenities and ADOSH-SF – CoP 9.0 – Workplace Wellness.
(k) Employers shall ensure an allowance is made for self-pacing of work and appropriate
rest breaks are provided to exposed employees.

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(l) Employers shall ensure that in the event an employee is suffering from a suspected
heat related illness they have immediate access to medical attention, in accordance
with ADOSH-SF– CoP 4.0 – First Aid and Medical Emergency Treatment and incidents
are reported as per ADOSH-SF – Element 7 – Monitoring, Investigation and Reporting.
3.1.2 Employees
(a) Employees shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.7.
(b) Employees shall ensure they participate in training required by the employer or
supervisors in regards to heat stress and work in hot environments.
(c) Employees shall ensure that they know the requirement of their employer’s heat
stress program and obey the requirements of the program.
(d) Employees shall ensure they report any failures of the heat stress program to their
supervisor immediately.
(e) Employees shall ensure they report any symptoms of heat illness suffered by
themselves or fellow employees to their supervisor immediately as per
ADOSH-SF –
Element 07 – Monitoring, Investigation and Reporting.
3.2 Heat Stress Program Requirements
(a) Employers shall perform a risk assessment in accordance with
ADOSH-SF– Element 2 –
Risk Management, to identify high temperature working environments and implement
effective control measures to reduce exposure and protect employees from heat
exposure as far as reasonably practicable.
(b) Employers that have employees working in high temperature environments shall
develop a worksite specific heat stress program that shall consist of, but not be limited
to the following elements:
(i) acclimatization program for new employees, employees that have been on
vacation, and employees that are moving from a worksite that has climate
control to a worksite that has high temperatures with an allowance of 5-7 days
for acclimatization before starting hard work in a hot environment;
(ii) process for assessing environmental conditions utilizing the Thermal Work Limit
(TWL) to determine work/rest breaks and water consumption requirements for
employees (refer to
ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline – Safety in the Heat);
(iii) system to communicate current environmental conditions to employees so they
can take the appropriate control measures to prevent heat stress injuries and
illnesses;
(iv) communication system to inform/remind employees, employees returning from
vacation and visitors to the site of the hazards of heat stress, signs and
symptoms of heat stress, and steps to be taken to prevent heat stress;
(v) requirements for provision of appropriate amounts of potable drinking water
close to the worksite and appropriate electrolyte replacement drinks, as per

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guidance from a qualified physician, for employees working in high temperature
environments and implement programmed drinking where appropriate every
hour to encourage appropriate fluid intake, in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP
8.0 – General Workplace Amenities and
ADOSH-SF – CoP 9.0 – Workplace
Wellness;
(vi) provision of appropriate clothing (e.g. lightweight, cotton, light-colored, loose-
fitting - unless using machinery) and personal protective equipment including a
large personal water container (of at least one litre in size). Shared drinking
cups, water bottles, or other such devices are not allowed;
(vii) provision for design and placement of shade and cooling shelters for employees
working outside during summer months and appropriate cooled accommodation
/ shelter for the summer months during the midday break periods set by the
Ministry of Labour;
(viii) process for scheduling physical activities in the summer months during the
coolest part of the day to the extent reasonably practicable;
(ix) provision of pre-employment screening and medical clearance in accordance
with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 5.0 – Occupational Health Screening and Medical
Surveillance for any employee working in high temperature environments to
identify any chronic medical condition (e.g. high blood pressure, obesity) or use
of prescription drugs which may affect their resistance to heat stress (by
consulting a doctor);
(x) pre-job training (inductions) prior to working in high temperature environments
and a permit to work system in extreme high temperature and humidity
environments that includes the TWL High Risk Zone (refer to
ADOSH-SF –
Technical Guideline – Safety in the Heat);
(xi) audit/Inspection program to ensure worksites are following the heat stress
program requirements, as per
ADOSH-SF – Element 8 – Audit and Inspection;
(xii) training for all employees as required in Section 2 of this document; and
(xiii) investigation and reporting of heat injuries and illness as required by
ADOSH-SF
– Mechansim11.0 – Incident Notification, Investigation and Reporting.
(c) Whenever reasonably practicable, engineering control measures shall be used to
eliminate/reduce the heat exposure. Control measures may include:
(i) adding Insulation to building ceilings to minimize solar heat transfer;
(ii) providing shaded work areas;
(iii) providing cooled and air-conditioned rest areas with water or electrolyte drinks,
as per Department of Health - Abu Dhabi / qualified physician’s instructions;
(iv) using exhaust ventilation such as extraction hoods above heat-generating
processes like a furnace or oven to remove heat;
(v) using forced air-ventilation such as fans to increase airflow across the skin and
increase evaporation and cooling; and
(vi) using cooled air from an air-conditioning system to cool work areas.
(d) Work is to be planned so that an appropriate number of employees are acclimatized
and prepared to work in a high temperature environment.

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(e) Employees shall not work alone in heat stress areas, in accordance with ADOSH-SF –
CoP 30.0 – Lone Work and/or in Remote Locations.
(f) Any Personal Protective Equipment provided shall be in accordance with ADOSH-SF –
CoP 2.0 – Personal Protective Equipment.
(g) Appropriate cool fluids shall be available and accessible by employees to maintain
appropriate hydration during periods of high temperature. If refillable containers (eg.
water coolers) are used, the seal shall be taped with the date the container was filled
written on the tape. Refillable containers shall be cleaned and refilled daily and
containers without a taped and dated seal shall be not be used for rehydration of
employees.
(h) Employers shall post urine charts, informational fliers on heat stress, or other similar
methods to help employees identify if they are becoming dehydrated. (Example of a
urine chart can be found in ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline – Safety in the Heat).
(i) Employees working in high temperature environments shall be provided a cooler area
to rest during breaks in order to reduce body heat. Duration of breaks, extent of
clothing removal, and rest area shall be appropriate for conditions at the site.
(j) Employers with high temperature work environments shall implement the following
protocol in case of dehydration or heat illness:
(i) Ensure first aid or medical treatment is readily available if an employee begins
to feel symptoms of heat illness or dehydration; and
(ii) ensure fellow employees and/or supervisors know how to call for additional
emergency medical assistance if required or if the employee complains of chest
pains, or has symptoms of heat stroke.

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Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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4. Record Keeping
(a) At a minimum, the following information shall be documented and records kept for a
heat stress program:
(i) details of heat stress program initiatives and activities conducted;
(ii) details of training, information, education and awareness resources and
materials communicated to employees regarding working in hot environments;
(iii) details of heat stress related facilities and services provided to exposed
employees, contractors and visitors to the workplace(s);
(iv) records of program evaluation such as cost effectiveness, cost benefit of
interventions, comparative statistics with previous years, employee satisfaction
or process evaluation; and
(v) records of heat stress related incidents.

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Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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5. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment
Page/s Affected
4.0
15 th July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-SF
to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Change from HAAD to DOH
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.
Title of Mechanism 7.0 updated to ADOSH-
SF – Mechanism 7– Public and Preventive
Health Practitioner and Service Provider
Accreditation
OSHAD-SF - Mechanism 8.0 - OSH
Practitioner Registration deleted
References section deleted