STAYING cool on the job just got a whole lot more critical and protected.
With temperatures climbing, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is stepping up to protect workers from extreme heat.
Under Labor Advisory 19 series of 2026, the department expanded the official list of heat-related conditions covered by workers’ compensation.
If heat on the job makes a worker sick, the safety net is now wider than ever.
Beyond standard heat stroke and exhaustion, you can now claim coverage for: fainting and dizziness (heat syncope), severe heat rash (bungang araw), muscle breakdown (Rhabdomyolysis), kidney injuries from dehydration and neurological disorders caused by excessive heat exposure.
Workers are also qualified for compensation of even unlisted conditions if their job environment significantly boosted risk from heat.
The new guidelines protect both indoor and outdoor workers both in the government and the private sectors.
Heat-injured workers need to show that their job conditions materially contributed to the illness when claiming benefits. The Social Security System and the Govenment Service Insurance System will look at key environmental and physical factors like:
High workplace heat and humidity (supported by PAGASA heat index reports)
Heavy physical exertion or long exposure hours
Lack of access to shade, cooling areas, or drinking water
Missing protective equipment or rest breaks
Employers are required to assist workers throughout the process. This includes maintaining an Employees’ compensation logbook, filing incident reports, and providing helpful documentation-such as job descriptions, work-rest schedules, and workplace temperature logs.