Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-29


here to afford better working con-
ditions for employees has been
called for by Government person
mel officials in the issuance of a
new and tougher hot.weaJher
policy governing dismissal of
employees.
/ In the text of the new order
issued yesterday by the Federal
Personnel Council, it was empha-
sized that Improvement should
be made to alleviate uncomfortable
working conditions for employees
during sweltering summer days.
But the council said release of
iemployes on hot days wasn't the
answer TO the problem.
The council is the official ad-
lvisory agency to the White House
and the Civil Service Commission
on Federal personnel matters and
lis composed of the personnel
directors of all Government de-
Ipartments and agencies.
Text of Council Statement.
The. text of the Personnel
Councils statement + follows:
The Federal Personnel Coun-
Gil at it's meeting on May 8, 1851,
affirmed the policy for the Metro
politan Area of Washington, D.
c., concerning continuing work on
hot days.
THE Council went on record
that dismissals in most work
places in Metropolitan Washing
ton, as in most other parts of the
country, should be non-existent
or rare. Some establishments
commonly have very hot condi-
tions, but employees are accus-
toned to them and work as q
matter of course. The only ex-
ceptions should be a few installa-
tons where working conditions in
hot weather become unusually
bad. In the opinion of the Coun-
lcil, emphasis should be placed on
correction OF such places. Until
corrected, any dismissals should
be considered emergency leave.
'The following policy is sug-
lgested:
cd That individuals who suf-
fer from the heat and who think
that their health may be endan-
gered go to the emergency room
for consultation, and that super
visors grant them sick or annual
leave ON the recommendation Of
medical or nursing officials.
Medical Opinion Cited.
According to physicians from
the Public Health Service and
other medical opinion, weather
conditions obtaining in Washing
ton are not likely to endanger per-
sons of normal health during the
course of ordinary working activ-
ity. There is no doubt, however,
concerning the danger which ex-
posure to extreme conditions Of
heat involves for those workers
who suffer from a variety of tenn
porary or chronic health defects.
Some normal and healthy workers
may develop a critical condition
due to heat because of the nature
|of their work.
Every effort should be made
to safeguard those particularly
affected. Supervisors should be
Instructed to be observant Of in
dividuals who might be affected
by the heat and to take special
precautions with them on days Of
extreme heat. Supervisors should
also suggest consultation with
medical and nursing services.
where indicated.
"(2) That supervisors be liberal
in the granting of annual leave
to employees who are suffering
from the heat, but who are not
granted sick leave because OF dam
ger to health, provided that they
can be spared.
"(3) That the head of each
agency check to see If there are
any work places in the building
now in use by his agency where
based on the experience Of the
last few years, he thinks dismis-
sails on account of heat would be-
warranted due to unusually or
exceptionally hot conditions of
work, for example, certain tenn
porary buildings, inside rooms
with insufficient ventilation, and
other portions of building may
become virtually unfit for work:
and that he notify the Public
Buildings Service promptly Of any
additions to or subtractions from
last years list.
Heat-Humidity Formula Set.
Except for extreme .emergencyl
conditions, group dismissals will
be made only from such locations
and then only when tempera-