Tina Chander, head of the employment law team at Wright Hassall, discusses whether the heatwaves are making it too hot to work.
Whilst a spot of UK summer sun might sound appealing on the face of it, one thing is for sure; once those temperatures start to rise over 30 degrees, the thought of trying to carry on seamlessly with normal working life will leave many people feeling a bit hot under the collar.
The Met Office has predicted that we’re destined for a summer gripped by soaring temperatures, with forecasts estimating record-breaking highs of 41 degrees in some parts of the country. This raises the very valid question – at what point does it become too hot to work?
Bona fide heatwaves are somewhat of a rarity in the UK. However, that doesn’t mean that employers can simply hope for the best when temperatures start to rise in the workplace. On the contrary, they need to really consider exactly what can be done to help alleviate the risks and ensure the safety and efficiency of their teams.
Finding the right temperature
High temperatures can severely impede our normal, everyday functions, resulting in fatigue, a loss of concentration, dizziness, fainting and confusion.
These are all symptoms that can hinder productivity or create a dangerous working environment. It’s important that employers establish a more comfortable setting in which their teams will remain productive, whilst staying focused and safe.
The ideal working temperature is usually somewhere between 16 and 24 degrees, but this will be dependent upon the nature of the work being undertaken. For example, those who work outside in the full heat of the sun whilst wearing robust PPE will be far more susceptible to overheating than people sitting in an air-conditioned office or retail space.
The Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers recommends that anyone performing ‘heavy work’ in locations such as factories should only be expected to do so in temperatures around 13 degrees. Those working in offices will be most productive at 20 degrees.
Maintaining such temperatures may not always be achievable, particularly as temperatures surge outside. But not even attempting to manage such scenarios could well result in a huge health and safety headache.
What does the law say?
At present, there is no legal maximum temperature whereby it’s considered to be too unsafe for workers in any sector to continue with their day-to-day duties.
The Trades Union Congress had previously been vocal about wanting to impose a maximum temperature of 30 degrees. However, this is currently not UK law, and both the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Approved Code of Practice to the Workplace Regulations simply suggest that workplace temperatures need to remain ‘reasonable’ and/or ‘comfortable’.
Protective regulations
Although UK law does not stipulate a maximum temperature in the workplace, employee wellbeing is still a matter that is very much regulated.
The Code of Practice suggests that all workers be provided with the applicable tools to monitor their working temperatures, and that ‘effective and sustainable’ ventilation should be available within the working space. Alongside this, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specifically requests that additional allowances be made to mitigate the increased risk posed to pregnant women when temperatures increase.
When it comes to any PPE that needs to be worn for work, The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 specifies that it must be appropriate for both the risks and the working environment. That means it needs to be both warm enough in winter but cool enough in hot weather.
Indoor workspaces
To protect those who work in an indoor setting, it’s best to be aware not just of the temperature but also humidity levels, assessing the additional impact that any other internal heat sources might have on the situation.
Natural ventilation should be the top priority, making sure there are fans if necessary. Dress codes should also be evaluated to make sure employees are as comfortable as possible whilst undertaking their roles. Where plausible, working directly next to windows should be prevented as this will improve airflow and avoid overexposure to direct sunlight.
If natural ventilation is limited, hydration, recovery periods and refreshment will be crucial. This could mean ensuring there are more comfort breaks offered, the provision of air-conditioned breakout areas, or the supply of chilled water.
Because of the impact that high temperatures can have on concentration, it would also be sensible to think about introducing shorter workdays until conditions become more manageable.
Keeping cool
Whilst most businesses have systems or procedures in place for when there are times of extreme snowfall or low temperatures, few have hot weather protocol, but it is no less important.
There is no excuse for not looking after your workforce properly in the heat. Planning properly for such situations will yield both business and personal benefits, ensuring that everyone can still make the most of the sun when it shines.
