The City Council of Barcelona has introduced a pioneering instruction to enhance worker protection against high temperatures and heatwaves. This new regulation will apply to approximately 32,000 employees, including 17,000 municipal staff and 15,000 from concessionary companies.

The measure responds to the current sustained increase in temperatures and the greater frequency of extreme heat episodes, which have a direct impact on health. The instruction focuses on identifying high-risk jobs and improving preventive measures, following the death of a municipal cleaning service worker in Barcelona during a heatwave last year.

The third deputy mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, highlighted the importance of anticipating these situations: "Any intervention above 35 degrees requires extreme caution regarding the conditions under which it is carried out," he stated.

During the highest alert levels, solo outdoor work is prohibited, and continuous activity is limited to 20 minutes, with mandatory 2-minute breaks. At lower alert levels, preventive measures such as the use of sunscreen, hats, and caps are introduced, along with the reassignment of strenuous tasks to personnel not considered heat-sensitive, or staff rotation to reduce exposure time. A registry of vulnerable individuals will also be created.

The council emphasizes that the instruction strengthens the coherence of the protection system, applying to both internal and external personnel of the organization.