Nepal Government Establishes Maximum Heat Stress Standards for Workplaces

Kathmandu. The government has implemented the Maximum Heat Level Standard for Workplaces, 2082, prioritizing the health and safety of workers.

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security approved the standard through a ministerial decision. The standard specifies the maximum temperature limits for various types of work.

According to the Department of Labour and Occupational Safety, all employers, workers, and stakeholders have been urged to comply with the standard. The department has also warned that action will be taken according to prevailing laws if the work is not carried out according to the approved standard.

Temperature Limits Specified According to Nature of Work

The new standard divides the workload into four categories and sets the maximum limit based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). For light work involving sitting or standing, such as machine operation or light hand work, the maximum temperature is set at 32.2 degrees Celsius.

Similarly, for tasks involving carrying goods or continuous hand and arm work, the limit is set at 30.6 degrees Celsius. For physically strenuous work such as digging, carrying heavy loads, or pushing, the limit is set at 28.9 degrees Celsius.

For very hard physical activities performed at a rapid pace, the maximum temperature is stipulated to be only 26.9 degrees Celsius.

According to the standard, workplace temperature measurements must be taken at a height of 1.5 meters above the floor surface, and the air velocity inside the room must be more than 1.5 meters per second. If the workplace temperature exceeds the specified limit, employers must adopt control measures. These include the use of personal protective equipment and worker rotation systems.

Instructions have been issued to Labour and Employment Offices across the country to effectively implement the standard. The department also stated that this standard will be reviewed every three years from the date of its enforcement.

The ministry stated that this step has been taken to make the workplace safe and dignified from an occupational safety and health perspective.