Italian regions Lombardy and Piedmont impose heat‑related work bans

Trade unions in Lombardy and the regional government of Piedmont have demanded and signed ordinances that suspend outdoor work during the hottest parts of the day when heat‑risk levels are marked as “high” on the Worklimate platform. The measures apply to construction sites, quarries, agriculture, floriculture, logistics and even delivery riders, requiring a pause from 12:30 to 16:00 on days when temperatures exceed 35 °C or the perceived heat index is extreme.

The orders aim to prevent heat‑stroke, dehydration and other heat‑related illnesses, citing more than 4,000 heat‑related injuries annually in Italy, with construction workers among the most exposed. Employers must monitor daily weather bulletins, adjust shift schedules and, where possible, provide shaded or cooled work areas. The Lombardy union call stresses that worker health must not be treated as an economic variable, while Piedmont officials describe the early implementation as a proactive response to increasingly frequent heat waves.