Employers urged to protect outdoor workers amid high dust levels

Employers have been urged to assess the risks posed by elevated dust concentrations on Tuesday and to take appropriate protective measures for employees working outdoors, the labour inspection department said.

Workers in open spaces were advised to use suitable protective equipment to limit their exposure to increased dust levels.

“The employer has the responsibility to provide protective gear for his employees,” the labour inspection department’s Christos Kizas told the Cyprus Mail.

Kizas said the current levels could be described as moderate and were expected to ease in the coming hours, as rainfall was forecast.

Kizas said that the current dust concentration could be considered moderate and that it was likely to ease in the next hours as rain was forecast.

He emphasised that employees needed to follow the relevant guide provided by the labour inspection department, which would help to ensure that they were following the correct procedures.

As of 9am, the highest dust concentration was recorded in Paphos at 172.9 μg/m³, followed by Larnaca at 163.4 μg/m³, Limassol at 122.9 μg/m³ and Nicosia at 95.5 μg/m³. Other affected areas included Paralimni (128.5 μg/m³), Zygi (80.5 μg/m³) and Ayia Marina Xyliatou (70.9 μg/m³).

“If the concentrations are very high for a longer period, then the department will make an announcement for outdoor works to be terminated, but if its only in one or two stations and for a few hours, then it’s the responsibility of the employer,” Kizas said.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency on Tuesday, meteorological officer Andreas Chrysanthou, said that the dust concentration in the atmosphere is expected to remain higher throughout the next days,

“[The dust] is the result of disturbances moving over the northern regions of Africa, lifting quantities of dust and transporting them towards us in the east, a scenario that will continue in the coming days,” he explained.

Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and sick people, are advised to avoid activities in open spaces until the phenomenon has passed.

An up-to-date overview of the dust concentration on the island can be found on the governments air quality monitor via https://www.airquality.dli.mlsi.gov.cy/.