The risk occurs when a worker, healthy and without individual conditions of thermal susceptibility, engages in intense physical work activities, such as when using muscle bicycles, which also involves direct and prolonged exposure to the sun, on days when the risk map, published on the website www.worklimate.it (referring to: 'workers exposed to the sun' with 'intense physical activity' at 12:00), indicates a 'HIGH' risk level.

The ordinance does not apply in the absence of intense physical work activity with direct and prolonged exposure to the sun or with the application of risk reduction measures or organizational technical solutions aimed at avoiding or reducing the time of direct exposure to the sun, or at decreasing the intensity and duration of work.

In this context, risk reduction measures refer to technical and organizational solutions aimed at avoiding or reducing the duration of direct exposure to the sun and decreasing the intensity and duration of work, such as: ⦁ mechanization and automation of production activities and motorization/electrification of bicycles; ⦁ modification and flexibility of working hours, including the possibility of autonomy in scheduling breaks, favoring activities in the early morning hours and late evening hours; ⦁ carrying out work activities indoors or in the shade, using fixed or removable coverings; ⦁ provision, through appropriate and frequent rotations, of breaks in shaded areas; ⦁ availability for workers, also through reimbursement or financial contribution, of mineral water and personal protective equipment, such as headgear and lightweight, breathable work clothing, that protect the head, skin, and eyes from direct exposure to solar rays; ⦁ avoiding sun exposure in case of suboptimal health conditions, being informed about the symptoms to watch for and emergency procedures (see the list below “Recommendations to prevent the effects of heat and solar radiation”).

• Work organization: limit or avoid work during the hottest hours of the day, especially for outdoor workers if, despite the adoption of specific preventive measures, heat stress poses significant health risks to the worker; limit exposure times by rotating personnel. It should be noted that identifying the most at-risk hours of the day must be done by evaluating the indices recognized by international regulations (WBGT, PHS), also using the tools available on the Physical Agents Portal and the Worklimate portal. • Acclimatization: must always be considered when defining specific company procedures, both for new hires and after interruptions in work activity. • Promote acclimatization when there is a temperature difference between different environments, for example by using transition areas with intermediate thermal conditions. • Suitable clothing, comfortable, made of natural fibers and in light colors. • Proper hydration and nutrition, both during work activity and in anticipation of complex thermal conditions, also taking into account any religious needs. • Availability of fresh water at the workplace, with the recommendation that workers pay maximum attention to their hydration status. • Information and training for workers on the health effects of heat stress and exposure to solar radiation, on specific risk protection measures, and on the implementation of emergency procedures, to be conducted in a language that workers understand. • If the risk assessment process highlights exposure to hot microclimate risks or solar exposure, health surveillance must be arranged to check for the presence of risk factors, whether constitutional or acquired. • Provide breaks to be taken in comfortable places. • Designate a person to oversee the surveillance plan for preventing the effects of heat and solar radiation.