Site safety and working in the heat
What your employer must provide, how to protect yourself from heat stress, and what to do if you are injured.
Heat in the Gulf is a health matter, not a comfort one. Heat stress and heatstroke happen every summer, and much of it is preventable. This is not left to the worker’s judgement: employers carry specific obligations.
The summer midday ban
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE prohibit work in direct sunlight during defined midday hours in the summer months. That is binding on the employer, not optional. Being told to work outdoors during the ban is a violation you can report.
The hours and the start and end dates are announced each year and can differ. Learn this year’s announced times from the authority.
What the site must provide
- Cool drinking water, continuously available and close to where you work.
- Shaded areas for rest.
- Protective equipment appropriate to the work: helmet, safety boots, gloves, a harness for height work.
- Basic instruction on the hazards before starting.
- First aid, and somebody who knows how to use it.
Safety equipment is the employer’s responsibility and must not be deducted from your pay.
Know the signs of heat stress
Watch for these in yourself and your colleagues — someone affected often does not notice their own condition:
- Headache, dizziness or confusion.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Muscle cramps, particularly in the legs and abdomen.
- Very heavy sweating — or sweating stopping suddenly with flushed skin, which is a serious sign.
- Rapid pulse and general weakness.
If they appear: stop immediately, move into shade, drink water, and tell a supervisor. If sweating has stopped or consciousness is affected, that is an emergency needing hospital transport, not a rest break.
Habits that protect you
- Drink regularly before you feel thirsty — thirst is a late signal.
- Wear light, loose clothing that breathes.
- Go easy on fizzy drinks and heavy stimulants during work.
- Take shaded breaks and do not skip them to finish faster.
- Sleep enough; poor sleep raises the risk of heat illness.
If you are injured at work
Report it immediately and on the record, and get treatment at a medical facility rather than at home. Keep the medical report and anything proving the injury happened at work. Work injuries carry legal coverage, but proving it starts with early reporting and a written report.
Never sign a paper stating the injury happened outside work in exchange for a quick payment. It forfeits a far larger entitlement.
Details and dates change annually; check with the labour and safety authority in your country of work.
Rules and fees change and differ by country and employer. Always check with the official authorities before paying or signing anything.