Ramadan Heat-Stress SOP: Working Safely Through the UAE Summer

Ramadan + a UAE summer + a live construction programme is one of the hardest operational combinations in the calendar. Fasting workforce, MoHRE midday break rules, elevated ambient temperatures, and pressure to hit milestones all pull in different directions. This SOP template gives you a defensible baseline that you can tailor per project.

1. Scope & responsibilities

Applies to all workers, supervisors and visitors on the site during Ramadan and the annual MoHRE midday break period (typically 12:30–15:00 from 15 June to 15 September; confirm the current MoHRE decree each year). Site management is accountable for enforcement; the HSE team monitors and reports; supervisors verify compliance at task level.

2. Work-rest cycles

• Adjust the shift start earlier where the client and permit conditions allow — earlier starts mean earlier finishes and less exposure during peak heat.
• Enforce the MoHRE midday break window with no exceptions except emergency response or client-approved essential works.
• For fasting workers on strenuous tasks, apply modified work-rest ratios (e.g. 40 minutes work / 20 minutes rest) with shaded, ventilated rest areas.
• Rotate workers off the most demanding tasks — don't leave the same crew on jackhammering, formwork stripping or steel fixing all shift.

3. Hydration & nutrition

• Provide cool drinking water at every work location — not just the welfare block.
• For non-fasting workers: encourage 250 ml every 20 minutes during active work.
• For fasting workers: brief the crew on the importance of Suhoor hydration and electrolyte intake at Iftar.
• Educate on early symptoms — dizziness, headache, cramps, reduced sweating.

4. Task planning during Ramadan

• Schedule cognitively demanding tasks (permit issue, crane lifts, confined-space entries) earlier in the shift.
• Avoid safety-critical tasks in the final 90 minutes before Iftar — attention and reaction times degrade.
• Increase supervisor-to-worker ratio during Ramadan; more eyes catch early heat-stress symptoms.

5. Emergency response

• Heat-stress emergency kit available at every zone: cooling packs, shaded stretcher, thermometer.
• First-aiders trained specifically on heat stroke recognition and cooling protocol.
• Clear escalation path to on-site medic or nearest facility with response times pre-verified.

6. Monitoring & records

• Daily WBGT or heat-index reading logged; work adjusted per pre-agreed thresholds.
• Toolbox talks explicitly cover heat stress twice weekly during Ramadan.
• Any heat-stress incident (even without medical treatment) recorded as a near-miss and reviewed weekly.

This SOP is a starting point. Every project should tailor it to the specific scope, client requirements and site geography — but the categories above are the ones an ADOSH-SF (formerly OSHAD) or Dubai Municipality inspector will look for when checking your Ramadan preparations.