This research provided a scientific basis on which to propose adjustments to Qatar’s
existing legislation to further protect workers from occupational heat stress.
As our recommendations have been assessed from both the health and productivity outcomes, we
hope that they will promote health and wellbeing and prevent heat illness for all workers in Qatar.
We collected and analysed data from more than 5,500 working hours.
We recorded different parameters of the workers’ mental and physical health,
their physiology and their labour efforts on a second-by-second basis.
This is the largest study of this kind internationally, and the first in the Gulf region.
Our weather stations recorded high levels of heat in the outdoor workplaces, particularly in the
middle part of the day. Nevertheless, workers were able to perform their roles safely when
effective heat mitigation measures were in place. One of the key reasons why workers – particularly
in the World Cup sites- were able to stay at low levels of occupational heat stress
was because of the comprehensive heat stress mitigation plans already in place
including cooled and shaded rest areas, mandatory health screenings, specialised cooling work-wear,
and most importantly – the empowerment of workers to self-pace and take frequent breaks.
This was a key element of the heat mitigation plan and allowed them to cope with high a level of heat
and humidity. Another key element of the study was that a number of workers arrived at work in a
dehydrated state. This highlights the importance of health education and hydration advice.
Finally, we found that workers are more likely to stay cool if they replace their tight and
dark-coloured clothes with light, durable and clothes made from breathable fabrics.
Workers in the World Cup sites were supplied with clothes aiming to keep them cool,
and the workers felt that these suits were effective in reducing heat stress.
Until recently, the prohibited work period in Qatar was from 11:30 in the morning until 3
o’clock in the afternoon – and it was into effect from June 15th until August 31st.
However, our measurements across multiple workplaces showed that people working under
the sun are at high levels of occupational heat stress as early as 10 AM, and from the
beginning of June until the end of September. This prompted us to recommend an expansion
of the prohibited work period to make sure that workers are effectively protected.
The Wet Bulb temperature – also known by its initials as WBGT – is a widely
recognized index for environmental heat stress and its impact on human health and performance.
It is recognized as the most effective index for occupational heat stress assessment and
mitigation. The aim for a WBGT threshold is to have an exposure that could extend over hours
where individuals could perform their work routines safely at a low risk to
their health. Our research showed that this risk remains low as long as WBGT is below 32.1 °C.
This threshold is similar to that adopted in several other countries.
As in most other countries, about one-third of manual labourers
in Qatar suffer from conditions such as diabetes and hypertension
that increase their risk of experiencing heat illness when they work in a hot environment.
This is why it is really important to conduct annual health checks to prevent, to diagnose,
and to manage chronic health conditions and to educate them to remain fit for duties.
We know that many companies in Qatar, including those working on World Cup sites, are already
conducting comprehensive medical checks which are a key component of heat stress mitigation.
Qatar is well-known for its high temperatures, particularly during the summer.
However, no research had been done in Qatar or in any other country of the Gulf region
to assess whether these high heat levels affect some or all of the workers, to what extent and
which mitigation measures are more appropriate to adopt. Adopting mitigation measures that have
been developed in other countries or contexts can be unproductive, and more importantly can
be dangerous for workers’ health and wellbeing. That’s why it was important to perform a wide
assessment in real field conditions, testing different mitigation measures and providing
context-specific guidance to the Government and the responsible enterprises. We were very happy
that we were commissioned to do this work by the International Labour Organization,
the Ministry of Labour of Qatar and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.