Another heat wave is looming for Quebec. A situation that is becoming more and more frequent, and which particularly affects workers since every summer, lives are lost as a result of heat stroke suffered in the workplace.
In the Montreal region, we have been experiencing heat waves since the month of May and periods of intense heat that last for more than a week.
This is now also the reality of regions further north that have never experienced such intense heat before.
Today, it is clear that the situation will not improve. In fact, climate forecasts announce that, starting in 2051, there is a good chance that the Montreal region will face more than 50 days per year of heat waves above 30°C. In the Quebec region, the estimate is 34 days per year. Worrying data that should urge workplaces to adapt.
Heat wave = light work
Thermal stresses related to heat, their effects on the human body and the dangers associated with them are still little known. Acclimatization measurements, like the measurement of heat from a wet globe thermometer, which measures the temperature of air saturated with humidity, are little used in workplaces.
Until recently, CNESST inspectors, who are responsible for enforcing the regulation, did not all have access to a wet globe thermometer. Fortunately, purchases were recently made by the CNESST to fill these gaps following a campaign led by the FTQ which encouraged people to file a complaint with the CNESST if their working conditions exposed them to excessive heat.
Moreover, the regulations in force also require a reduction in the pace of work and the substantial addition of breaks in air-conditioned or shady places, which is very little known and rarely applied by employers.
Too often, in the middle of a heat wave, work continues at the same pace, without a break and in some cases… without access to water!
You should never hesitate to file a complaint when the work is not lightened during a heat wave, whether it is work that is done outdoors or in a building that is not air-conditioned. Your life and that of your colleagues may depend on it. Contact the CNESST or contact the public health department in your region to report the situation.
Climate change has a significant impact on our daily lives, it is undeniable. The forest fires that force the evacuation of entire cities, the presence of intense smog that prevents us from going about our business normally, the days of heat wave that continue to increase.
The climate is in the red, and the workers of Quebec are in the front row to suffer the impacts. Let’s all be proactive and enforce the regulations in force in order to preserve the lives of people who find themselves exposed to these new risks.