With onset of the hot and humid dry season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has re-implemented its 30-minute “heat stroke break” policy that could spare traffic enforcers and street sweepers from heat-related illnesses,
“Our personnel’s safety is our paramount concern,” MMDA Chairman Benjamin ” Benhur ” Abalos Jr. said.
Abalos said that this special heat stroke break is available to traffic enforcers and street sweepers “who work under the dry season’s searing heat and protect them from heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps.”
Under the policy, on-duty traffic enforcers and street sweepers are allowed to leave their posts in shifts and take a 30-minute break to rest.
For traffic enforcers who work from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift, the prescribed heat stroke break is from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; for those working from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. shift, the break time shall be observed from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.; from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. shift, the break time shall be observed from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.; for those working from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., the prescribed break is from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon; and for 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift the break time shall be observed from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For street sweepers who work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, the prescribed the respite is from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon; for those working from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift, the break time shall be observed from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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, Abalos added, would do the heat stroke break alternately.
To avoid heat exhaustion/heart stroke and heat cramps, a 15-minute break shall be added in case the heat index in Metro Manila reaches 40 degrees Celsius and above, said Abalos.
The grant of heat stroke break will take effect from April 15 until May 31,2021.
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