The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of workers, particularly those operating in open-air environments during Qatar’s hot summer months. Eng. Khalid Saif Al Khayareen, Director of Projects Affairs at Ashghal, confirmed that the authority strictly enforces a ban on outdoor work between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from June 1 to September 15 each year. This measure is part of a comprehensive heat stress prevention strategy developed in coordination with the Ministry of Labour.
Al Khayareen outlined several provisions aimed at protecting workers from heat-related illnesses. These include shaded and air-conditioned rest areas, cold drinking water, air-conditioned transportation, and personal protective equipment. Ashghal intensifies field monitoring, awareness campaigns, and training programs throughout the period to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety standards. The authority also performs regular inspections and emergency drills to enhance readiness for potential heat stress incidents.
The approach to managing heat stress involves daily weather monitoring and the use of approved heat stress indicators to inform decisions, such as modifying work schedules or temporarily halting certain activities. These proactive measures are designed to minimize health risks while ensuring the continuity and quality of ongoing projects.
Ashghal maintains an integrated monitoring system that includes frequent field visits and continuous inspections by on-site health and safety teams supervised by department officials. Prior to each summer season, contractors are required to submit detailed heat stress management plans, which Ashghal reviews to confirm readiness and effectiveness.
Al Khayareen emphasized that the authority views these efforts as more than regulatory compliance. He described them as a vital investment in the workforce, underscoring that worker well-being is central to the successful, efficient, and sustainable delivery of infrastructure projects. Training initiatives cover prevention techniques, recognition of heat stress symptoms, emergency response, and first aid, targeting workers, supervisors, and safety personnel alike.
By prioritizing these measures, Ashghal aims to eliminate heat stress as a risk factor in its operations, creating a safer working environment and supporting Qatar’s infrastructure development goals under challenging weather conditions.