EXPERT OPINION EXPERT OPIN EXPERT OPIN NION
Hot weather in the workplace ealth &
pers A he
H Building
Te
heat stroke or collapse. Delirium or confusion may occur above 41°C and blood temperatur es at this level can pr ove fatal.
your body’s
But even at lower temperatur es, heat leads to a loss of concentration
22 DIY WEEK 20 JULY 2018 Ahe lh t law p spective
Does the current heatwave give you cause for concern about the temperature in your workplace? Ellis Whittam – provider of employment law , HR and health &w,, HR and heal safety support to members of the British Independent Retailer Association (BIRA) – advises retailers on how to handle hot weather in the workplace.
you caus re in you
n (BIRA
ot weather is gr eat for a day on the beach, but not necessarily in the workplace. People usually
best work at temperatures between 16°C and 24°C. Although this varies depending on the kind of work being done. Strenuous work is better performed at slightly lower fice work. Institute
temperatures than off The
Charter ed Services
ffice w of Engineers
r ecommend the following temperatures:
Temperatures that vary too much fr om this can become a Health & Safety issue…
If workers get too hot, they risk dizziness, fainting, or even heat cramps. In very hot conditions, temperature
blood
and increased tiredness, w means workers are more like and others at sun also incr
Wo
The legposition on hot weather in the workplace As an employer, yr, , you must provide a working environment that as far as ‘r easonably practicable’ is safe and without risks to health. You also have to assess the risks and put in place any necessary pr evention or control measures. the
the risk of skin cancer. gal p
The legal position on hot weather in the workplace
kl Yo However, r,
workers – the W Safety & Welf
We Wo orkplace Regu The Tr
elfare) Regulations
Workplace (Health,
Wo y,, the law does not
inside workplace buildings must be ‘reasonable’. Additionally Approved Code of Practice to the W orkplace Regulations say ‘all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a comfortable temperatur e’. Trade s Union Congres s
suggest a maximum temperature
strenuous work), so that employers and workers know when action must be taken.
The Approved Code of Practice gives the following examples of what
put themselves and others at risk. Working in the s
places subject to radiant heat
If this is not sufficient, the Code says employers must install local cooling systems, incr ease ventilation, or install fans. It also says other factors must be taken into account when assessing what a ‘r easonable temperatur e’ is. This could include:
specify a maximum temperature for
More regulation to get you In addition, the Code requir es
More regulation to get you hot under the collar
ho htt under the collar
e
gg dth ll
employers to provide a suitable number of thermometers to allow workers to check indoor temperatures.
employers must pr ovide ‘effective and suitable ventilation’. However make sur e this isn’t simply done by
r,, pg
Although the Workplace Regulations only apply to indoor workplaces, that doesn’t mean you don’t also have a duty to employees working outside.
All employers have a general duty to protect the Health & Safety of the workforce under the Health & of working in hot temperatures, or exposur e to the sun, must also be assessed and contr olled under the Management of Health & Safety regulations employers must comply with in hot conditions include the: equipment
personal protective
The regulations also say employers
(PPE) must be suitable for the risks, for the workers using it, and for the working envir onment. This means if PPE is used in hot weather (inside or out), it must be designed to keep workers as cool as possible
to take into account other factors including hot and
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