NHAI issues heatwave safety guidelines to protect highway workforce and ensure operations

New Delhi: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued comprehensive guidelines to mitigate the impact of the ongoing heatwave on workers engaged in construction, maintenance and toll operations across National Highways.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, NHAI said the measures aim to safeguard workforce health while ensuring uninterrupted highway operations and user safety amid above-normal summer temperatures.

For construction and maintenance activities, contractors and concessionaires have been directed to adopt staggered working hours, avoiding peak heat periods between 12 PM and 4 PM. Labour-intensive tasks such as asphalt laying and welding will be carried out during early morning or late evening hours. Mandatory cooling breaks, shaded rest areas, and uninterrupted access to potable drinking water have also been prescribed.

The guidelines emphasize worker acclimatization, requiring gradual exposure to strenuous tasks over 3–5 days, along with training to identify and respond to heat-related illnesses. On-site first-aid facilities will be equipped with Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), glucose and essential supplies, while patrol ambulances will carry ice packs, cold water and IV fluids. Route Patrolling Units have been instructed to intensify monitoring to assist highway users during emergencies.

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For toll plaza operations, NHAI has advised minimizing outdoor exposure of personnel between 11 AM and 3 PM through shift optimization. Cooling rooms, temporary sheds, and continuous availability of drinking water, ORS and glucose have been made mandatory. Staff will also be trained to handle heat-related health issues among commuters.

NHAI field officials will conduct weekly inspections to ensure compliance with the guidelines. The authority said the measures are based on best practices and will be implemented immediately across all project sites and toll locations under its jurisdiction.

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