Last Updated on July 14, 2025
The heat wave currently affecting Italy is causing high-risk conditions for workers’ health and safety, especially in sectors involving prolonged exposure to the sun and physical exertion.
In this regard, on 2 July, the Ministry of Labour and the social partners signed a new Protocol for the management of climate-related risks in the workplace, with the aim of continuing production activity while guaranteeing health and safety conditions in both outdoor and indoor workplaces.
Of a non-binding nature but of strong political-institutional value, this document promotes the adoption of good practices in order to prevent occupational accidents and diseases as well as discomfort related to workers’ exposure to high temperatures. In particular, it reiterates the obligation of employers, as part of risk assessment, to also take into account exposure to microclimate and solar radiation, and to put in place the preventive measures necessary for minimising these risks.
Furthermore, it promotes the activation of national, territorial or company contractual agreements to translate the Protocol into specific measures for each sector.
To this end, specific information and training on climate-related risks, health oversight, the adequate supply of PPE and clothing according to the season, and the reorganisation of shifts and working hours are identified as possible areas of intervention.
Reward criteria, recognised by INAIL in relation to occupational health and safety incentive instruments, may be envisaged for companies that adopt agreements implementing the Protocol.
Finally, the Ministry of Labour is requested to formally acknowledge the Protocol with a commitment to support its effectiveness by adopting all the necessary measures to:
- guarantee appropriate protection for workers, including the automatic recourse to social shock absorbers by providing, as an exception to the ordinary rules, the deduction of the relevant periods from the maximum duration limits of redundancy pay;
- reorganise working hours;
- provide companies with protection against all possible liabilities, such as, for example, those related to late delivery of work.
The indications in the Protocol are part of a general framework of attention afforded to the climatic emergency with regard to the performance of work. On 19 June 2025 in fact, the Stage-Regions Conference had already issued guidelines to protect workers from the sun’s heat and rays.
Pending information on how the Protocol’s indications will be implemented, in message no. 2130 of 3 July, the INPS provided a summary of the social shock absorbers that can currently be used by companies for still employed workers, also following a report by the company safety manager who notes the existence of risk profiles for the health of workers related to excessive heat. The following are mentioned in particular:
a) wage supplementation with the grounds “suspension or reduction of activity by order of public authorities for causes not attributable to the company or workers”. In this regard, it should be noted that almost all Regions have already issued ordinances prohibiting work during the hottest hours of the day for certain sectors most exposed to heat-related risk (e.g. construction and agriculture);
b) wage supplementation with the grounds “weather event” for “high temperatures” recognised when temperatures are higher than 35 degrees Celsius, or also lower if, in relation to the type of activity, the assessment of the so-called “perceived” temperature is relevant;
c) special redundancy pay for agricultural workers and employees (CISOA).
Finally, the INPS reiterates that recourse to the social shock absorber for this kind of situation is recognised as an objectively non-avoidable event (so-called EONE) for which certain procedural simplifications apply.
Toffoletto De Luca Tamajo is at your disposal should you need any further clarification or details.
For further information: comunicazione@toffolettodeluca.it
