Extreme heat: Council urges suspension of midday construction work

The Sector Skills Council for Building in Nigeria has instructed construction companies and property developers to stop non-essential heavy work outdoors between noon and 3:30 pm to protect workers from extreme heat. The council warned that rising temperatures, dry spells, dust, and flooding are putting workers at risk of heatstroke, respiratory illnesses, and accidents, which could hurt productivity and livelihoods.

They advised contractors to adjust work hours, provide drinking water, and create shaded rest areas across the country. The council's President, Samson Opaluwah, emphasized that workers in open-air environments face significant health and safety risks. Contractors must move activities like roofing and concrete pouring to early morning or late afternoon hours and provide hydration breaks every 20 minutes.

The council also recommended first-aid stations with oral rehydration salts and cooling supplies to treat heat-related illnesses. They warned that poor planning could hurt daily-paid artisans' earnings and called for regular weather checks and safety briefings. Contractors who do not follow these guidelines could face penalties and have their work halted.