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Maharashtra Issues Heat Safety SOPs for Outdoor Workers in High-Risk Districts

The Maharashtra government has released Standard Operating Procedures to protect outdoor informal workers in urban areas identified as highly vulnerable to extreme heat. The SOPs mandate rescheduling work to cooler hours and enforcing rest breaks during heat alerts, particularly for construction, industrial, and vending sectors. It requires the installation of water booths, distribution of ORS, and ensuring medical preparedness at local health centers. The plan also promotes shaded public spaces and cooling infrastructure, targeting 15 high-risk districts across Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh.

Key Points: Maharashtra SOPs Protect Outdoor Workers from Urban Heat

  • Mandatory work rescheduling during alerts
  • Water booths & ORS distribution at work sites
  • Medical prep with stocked health centers
  • Creation of shaded public spaces & cooling infrastructure
3 min read

Maha govt issues SOPs for protection of outdoor workers in urban heat risk districts

Maharashtra releases heat safety SOPs for outdoor workers, mandating work rescheduling, water access, and medical preparedness in 15 high-risk districts.

"rescheduling of outdoor work hours had been suggested to cooler periods from 6 A.M. to 11 A.M. and 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. during heat alerts - State Advisory"

Mumbai, April 13

The Maharashtra government on Monday released Standard Operating Procedures for protection of outdoor informal workers in urban heat risk districts of the state.

As per the advisory released by the state disaster management minister Girish Mahajan, rescheduling of outdoor work hours had been suggested to cooler periods from 6 A.M. to 11 A.M. and 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. during heat alerts, enforcement of mandatory rest breaks from 12 to 4 P.M. during orange and red alerts, mandating schedule shifts especially in construction, industrial and vending sectors.

Further, it will be necessary to issue official district or urban local body circulars mandating schedule shifts, especially in construction, industrial and vending sectors.

Workspace safety for women will be ensured through lighting, transport and protective facilities. The SOP was necessitated as Maharashtra ranks among India's top 10 most heat vulnerable states and Union Territories.

According to the State Heat Action Plan, 15 districts across Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh regions that have been identified as highly vulnerable to extremes heat are Latur, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Buldhana, Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gondia, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Dhule and Nanded.

The SOP applies to all municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats operating in high risk urban areas.

According to the SOPs, installation of water booths at major informal work locations including, markets, crossings, traffic junctions, transit hubs and vending areas will be necessary to ensure water access with clear signage and regular refilling.

The distribution of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and electrolyte sachets through primary health Center's, ward offices and NGOs will have to be done.

The parks and gardens need to remain open and accessible during afternoon hours, erection of temporary shade at vending areas, labour chowks, worker zones and traffic junctions will be done.

As far as medical preparedness and surveillance are concerned, the primary health centres and urban health centres will have to be stocked with ORS, IV fluids and heat illness treatment kits; there is a need to train ASHAs and ward health workers in heat-related illness and pre-position 108 ambulances in high vulnerability zones and monitor response time during high risk days.

The SOP mandates promotion of shaded public spaces, tree plantation, reflective surfaces and misting systems in urban planning and design and upgradation of dense work zones with permanent shade, cool roofs and water access and incentivising employers and market associations to install cooling infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the state government will set up a centre for training and research related to disaster management at Nagpur costing Rs 184 crore. The centre will be mandated to provide training and conduct research related to extreme heat conditions and sustainable cooling.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
Good to see focus on women's safety with lighting and transport. The afternoon break from 12-4 is sensible, but will daily wage workers get paid for that time? The SOP must address wage protection during mandatory breaks, otherwise workers will ignore it.
A
Aman W
Finally some action! Latur and Marathwada regions are like a furnace. The plan for temporary shades at traffic junctions and labour chowks is excellent. Auto-rickshaw drivers, police, and street vendors will benefit greatly. Hope they also include provisions for cool drinking water, not just regular water.
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Priyanka N
The research centre in Nagpur for Rs 184 crore sounds like a good long-term investment. But the immediate measures—water, shade, ORS—need funding and monitoring too. Who will check if the water booth at the market is actually refilled? Local NGOs and citizen groups should be involved in oversight.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, while the SOP is comprehensive on paper, our track record with such advisories is poor. The same districts listed face water scarcity every summer. How will water for booths be ensured? The plan mentions 'incentivising employers' but most informal workers don't have a fixed employer. The core issue of livelihood security during extreme heat needs more clarity.
D
David E
Interesting to see such a detailed heat action plan. The focus on urban planning with reflective surfaces and tree plantation is smart climate adaptation. Other states should replicate this. The training for ASHA workers is a great use of existing community health infrastructure. 👍

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