Jun 23

HEATWAVES, WORKERS’ RIGHTS & RESOURCES

Means of prevention for workers
– Adjust your work pace according to your acclimatization to the heat and climatic conditions (e.g.: heat, humidity, sunshine)
– Take breaks (every hour, and of an appropriate length depending on the temperature) in the shade or in a cool place
– Drink at least one glass of fresh water every 20 minutes, or more frequently, even if you do not feel thirsty, as indicated in the
– Corrected Air Temperature (TAC) utility of the Robert-Sauvé – Research Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (IRSST)
Wear light, light-colored clothing, preferably cotton, to help sweat evaporate
– Cover your head when working outside
– Work in teams or pairs and avoid working alone
– Be extra careful if you have health problems or are taking medication.
– Stop work at the first symptoms of discomfort
– Immediately report to coworkers, first aiders, and the supervisor any symptoms experienced or unusual behavior of another worker
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES:
– Assess the risk
Generally, the risk increases as air temperature, humidity, and sunlight levels rise. The risk is also greater for workers performing sustained physical effort and for those who are not yet acclimatized.
How to assess the risk?
Consult the pamphlet Working in the Heat… Watch Out!, available on the CNESST website. It’s a tool that helps quickly assess the level of risk the worker is exposed to.
– Prevent heat stroke
It’s simply a matter of applying prevention measures that take into account a combination of factors related to the climate, work organization, the nature of the tasks, and the health condition of the workers.
Is the Employer jeopardizing the health of you and your colleagues and not taking any preventative measures or forcing you beyond what is considered safe? You have the right to refuse unsafe work, but there is a procedure you should follow outlined here: https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/…/right-refuse-perform-task
Finally, report unsafe working conditions to the CNESST here: Contact the inspector on duty by calling 1 844 838-0808 , option 1. Your report will be treated confidentially.

Related Posts

Scapegoating Migrants Won’t Solve a Systemic Crisis

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s call for a “very hard cap” on immigration is both misleading and harmful. Blaming newcomers for housing shortages and youth unemployment serves to distract from the real culprits: decades of neoliberal economic policy and an unregulated housing market dominated by speculative interests. The crisis is not about too many people—it’s about a system built to serve profits, not people. Migrant workers are not causing the housing... Read more →

Quebec Tightens Economic Immigration Criteria: What It Means for Migrant Workers and Students

n late 2024, the Quebec government announced major revisions to its economic immigration programs, aiming to reduce overall immigration numbers and prioritize applicants with strong French language skills. Key Changes Temporary suspension of PRTQ and PEQ–Diploma: From October 31, 2024, until June 30, 2025, Quebec has paused invitations under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ, soon to be PSTQ) and direct admissions under the PEQ–Diploma stream. Higher French requirements: Applicants... Read more →

No Refuge in Fortress Canada: On World Refugee Day, We Refuse Hypocrisy

Today, as politicians in Ottawa issue hollow statements about “welcoming refugees” and celebrating Canada’s “humanitarian values,” we at the Immigrant Workers Centre refuse to join in their hypocrisy. World Refugee Day is not a celebration—it is a moment of mourning and rage. While the government waves its diversity flag abroad, it continues to build a fortress at home. This year, the new government of Prime Minister Mark Carney—a former banker... Read more →

Quebec Declares War on Workers: IWC Denounces Anti-Labour Bill 89

89 as an outright attack on working-class power and a gift to corporate bosses. Passed in defiance of mass opposition, this legislation criminalizes collective resistance, muzzles strike action, and threatens every worker’s basic human right to organize and fight back. “This is class warfare. Bill 89 isn’t reform — it’s repression,” said Mustafa Hanawi, community organizer with the IWC. “Immigrant and precarious workers are being pushed further into silence, exploitation,... Read more →