The Ministry of Public Health has conducted an awareness workshop on heat stress, bringing together approximately 160 occupational health and safety officials representing various companies.
The initiative was designed to strengthen awareness among occupational health and safety professionals and employers about the dangers associated with heat stress, while improving understanding of effective prevention strategies. The workshop focused on supporting worker health protection and reducing heat-related injuries, particularly among those engaged in outdoor activities during the summer months.
Dr Salah Abdulla Alyafei, Director of the Health Promotion Department at the Ministry of Public Health, said the workshop formed part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to create safer and healthier workplaces that are better prepared to manage challenges caused by extreme temperatures. He highlighted the importance of coordinated awareness initiatives between the Ministries of Public Health and Labour, aimed at reaching private-sector workers and improving health and safety awareness across the workforce.
Dr Mohammed Ali Al Hajjaj, Head of the Occupational Health Section at the Ministry of Public Health, said the programme covered several essential areas, including the meaning of heat stress, contributing factors, warning signs, symptoms and prevention techniques. He added that discussions also focused on workplace best practices for tracking heat stress levels and monitoring heat-related indicators to improve employee safety and minimise health risks linked to prolonged heat exposure.
Representatives from the Emergency Department at Hamad Medical Corporation delivered sessions on the immediate first-aid measures required at worksites when employees experience heat stress. They also shared statistics on heat stress cases treated in emergency departments during 2025, which indicated a reduction compared with previous years. However, they stressed the importance of continued vigilance, especially during August, when temperatures typically create greater risks.
Experts from the Occupational Health and Safety Department at the Ministry of Labour outlined key approved measures and workplace requirements designed to safeguard employees. These included the prohibition of outdoor work in exposed areas between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from 1 June to 15 September each year, alongside requirements for providing adequate drinking water and shaded rest facilities at worksites.
The workshop also included practical guidance on measuring workplace temperature and humidity through different monitoring devices. Participants were informed about early warning signs of heat-related illnesses and effective prevention approaches, including gradual acclimatisation to high temperatures, maintaining proper hydration, managing work and rest schedules, and using suitable personal protective equipment.
The event concluded with the distribution of printed and digital awareness resources highlighting heat stress symptoms, preventive actions and recommended workplace practices to help reduce risks associated with heat exposure.
