The CCOO Hábitat Cádiz union has presented its prevention campaign against heatstroke for the summer of 2026, under the slogan of "effective prevention." The organization aims to enhance worker protection and demand strict adherence to preventive measures at workplaces, reminding that protection against high temperatures is a legal obligation and a fundamental right.
Union representatives emphasized that "work should not cost any worker their life," highlighting that exposure to extreme temperatures remains a real threat to health and life, especially in sectors like construction where most activity occurs outdoors.
The province of Cádiz annually faces periods of increasingly high temperatures. Heatstrokes, which occur when the body loses its ability to regulate its temperature, can exceed 40 degrees Celsius and, if not addressed promptly, lead to severe health consequences or even death. Symptoms include skin redness, intense headaches, dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, disorientation, or loss of consciousness.
CCOO has denounced that many companies still do not integrate prevention transversally and that heat measures often remain only on paper. They recalled that these actions must be reflected in occupational risk assessments, obliging companies to implement concrete and effective measures.
The union's demands include the constant availability of fresh water, the provision of shaded or air-conditioned areas for breaks, adaptation of personal protective equipment and work clothing, and specific training to identify and respond to potential heatstroke cases. Health surveillance through periodic medical check-ups is also a key demand to detect conditions that could be aggravated by heat.
Regarding work schedule organization, CCOO advocates for the most physically demanding and sun-exposed tasks to be performed in the morning, avoiding peak thermal intensity hours. They also call for adequate planning of breaks and rotations. This request aligns with the long-standing demand to extend the summer intensive workday period, currently from July 1st to August 31st, deeming it insufficient given the current climate reality and comparing it unfavorably with other Andalusian provinces like Seville.
Daily monitoring of weather forecasts and alerts from AEMET is another crucial point. The collective agreement establishes action criteria: yellow alerts require extreme caution, orange alerts necessitate adaptation of workdays and tasks, and red alerts should lead to the suspension of unsafe activities. Company prevention managers must consult these notices and act immediately.
The Occupational Risk Prevention Law grants powers to prevention delegates to intervene and demand urgent measures in cases of serious and imminent risk. CCOO calls for specific written protocols for managing high-temperature risks, ensuring their knowledge and application by workforces.
A concerning aspect is the difficulty in quantifying the real impact of heat on occupational mortality. Although the public health system has noted an increase in deaths associated with high temperatures, many fatalities are registered as heart attacks or similar conditions, thus rendering the problem invisible. CCOO calls for increased inspections and resources for the Labor Inspectorate during summer, criticizing that interventions often come too late.
Finally, CCOO encourages construction workers to report any non-compliance regarding heat prevention measures, guaranteeing confidentiality to prevent employer retaliation. The organization stresses that, in a context of rising temperatures, protecting occupational health is an urgent necessity.
