Labour Inspection intensifies heat-safety checks in Cyprus

Following the announcement of an orange weather warning, the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus have intensified inspections to ensure compliance with requirements for protecting workers from the heat. Inspectors have already carried out around 140 raids in Nicosia and Larnaca and reminded the public that violations can be reported not only by an employee but also by any witness.

Employers are required to comply with the Code on the Prevention of Heat Stress. Under an orange warning, heavy and moderately strenuous outdoor work is prohibited from 12:00 to 16:00. Employers must also provide workers with drinking water and places to rest in the shade or in air-conditioned rooms, and, where necessary, move work to cooler hours of the day.

Monitoring is conducted both in response to complaints and as part of planned inspections. According to the Department of Labour Inspection, employers have significantly improved compliance in recent years thanks to ongoing information campaigns and increased supervision.

On 22 July, the Meteorological Service again issued an orange warning: air temperatures in the central areas of the island could reach 43°C.