STARTING April 1, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will impose a 30-minute “heat stroke break” for its field personnel to cope with scorching summer heat.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes signed a memorandum circular re-implementing the “heat stroke break” policy to protect field personnel from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat cramps due to severe heat waves.

“This move is part of the agency’s efforts to prevent heat-related illness among our outdoor workers who brave the searing heat every day to fulfill their duties and responsibilities. Their safety is of paramount importance,” Artes said.

Artes added that the heat stroke break, which will take effect until May 31, will be implemented daily through rotation.

Under the policy, on-duty traffic enforcers and street sweepers are allowed to leave their posts in shifts to seek shelter from the sun and take a 30-minute break to allow their bodies to cool down.

For traffic enforcers who work from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift, the prescribed “heat stroke break” is from 10 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 to 11 a.m.; for those working from 1 to 9 p.m. shift, the break time shall be observed from 2:30 to 3 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; for those working from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., the prescribed “heat stroke break” is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon; and for 2 to 10 p.m. shift, the break time shall be observed from 3 to 3:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, for street sweepers who work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, the prescribed “heat stroke break” is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon; for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift, they shall observe 12 noon to 1 p.m. regular break time; and for those working from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift, the break time shall be observed from 2:30 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 3:30 p.m.

“The heat stroke break shall be done alternately by those who are assigned in a particular area to maintain visibility of traffic enforcers and street sweepers and to ensure field operations are not hampered,” said Artes, adding that field personnel can also take an additional 15-minute break time in case the heat index or the “human discomfort index” in Metro Manila reaches 40 degrees Celsius and above.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Edd Reyes