Slovenia Ministry addresses worker safety during heatwaves

The Slovenian Ministry of Economy, Labour and Sport has addressed ongoing concerns regarding occupational safety and health during high-temperature periods. The Ministry emphasized that protecting worker health remains a key priority, particularly as climate change presents new challenges.

To assist employers, the Ministry previously introduced a professional guide titled "Safety and Health at Work Outdoors During Heatwaves," which utilizes guidelines from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), weather warnings from the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI).

The Slovenian Republic Inspectorate for Labour has also issued recommendations for organizing work during heatwaves to ensure compliance with current legislation. Authorities noted that while existing regulations allow for necessary preventive measures, the consistent implementation of these practices by companies is essential. The Ministry stated it will consider further legislative updates if frequent heatwaves demonstrate that current protections are insufficient.