Bahrain may have to extend the summer ban on outdoor work if unseasonal temperatures continue to soar, a senior government official said yesterday.

Two workers died of suspected heatstroke last month, with temperatures soaring well above 40 deg C in recent weeks.

The first victim, Bahraini worker Ali Mohammed Hassan, 57, died after collapsing at a Tubli worksite on May 31.

An Indian labourer was also found dead in a parking area near the Arabian Gulf University in Salmaniya the following day.

According to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) emergency medicine specialist Dr Nasser Mohammed Ali Mansoor, both had suffered from heat stroke.

Bahrain is set to enforce ban on outdoor work, from midday to 4 pm, in July and August.

Companies which break the law will be fined between BD50 and BD300 for each worker involved and last year 472 companies were prosecuted.

Labour Ministry occupational health and safety head Ali Abdulla Makki said the ban helped to significantly reduce the number of heatstroke cases, particularly in construction sites.

But he said it may need to be extended as temperatures continue to rise outside of the traditional hot summer months of July and August.

"If there is a change in the weather it may be needed for us to study that and give a proposal to modify the ministerial order based on the temperature profile between June and September," he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

However, Mr Makki added there were no immediate plans to extend the ban.

He was speaking ahead of his participation in a Bahrain Health and Safety Society (BHSS) workshop at the Novotel Al Dana Resort tonight.

Makki will discuss the success of the scheme, which was introduced for the first time last year, at the event taking place under the patronage of BHSS chairman Dr Mustafa Al Sayed.

He does not anticipate a huge increase in cases this year, despite the fact temperatures are already in the mid 40 deg C.

"This year I think we will have good results because we have already started to raise awareness and companies have sufficient time to arrange their activities," said Makki.

He revealed more than 150 company health and safety officials had already signed up to take part in an event to discuss the implementation of this year's ban next week.

It is being held at the Labour Ministry headquarters in Isa Town on June 18. - TradeArabia News Service