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There comes a point where it’s so hot outside that you literally can’t cool down while you’re welding. Whether it’s heat stroke, or heat exhaustion – nobody should be subjected to that in work
Aaron, Unite rep and welder
Aaron reported that he’s worked on sites where there are no water stations, and even more shockingly, where access to water was restricted.
“On one job, we were told flat out you can’t bring drinks on site,” he said. “It’s like, hang on a minute – we need water; you can’t do the job without it. Other sites I’ve been on, they just don’t want you to take breaks. It’s almost like we’re treated like cannon fodder – they think, ‘they’re in construction so they should just get on with it’.”
While Aaron and Ross said there are many measures that all employers should be taking to keep welders safe – including regular rest breaks and access to water – they feel the only way that construction workers can be protected across the sector is through a legal maximum working temperature.
In the UK, while there is a legal minimum working temperature, there
is absurdly no maximum legal limit, like there is many countries including Spain, Germany and China, as well as some states in the US, among others.
“A maximum working temperature would make a huge difference,” Aaron said. “There comes a point where it’s so hot outside that you literally can’t cool down while you’re welding. Whether it’s heat stroke, or heat exhaustion – nobody should be subjected to that in work.”
Ross agreed. “A maximum working temperature is a no-brainer. If it stops people from making mistakes at work and potentially hurting themselves or others, then it should be brought in. So many of the smaller firms won’t take the steps to protect their workers so a legal duty would force them to.”
Alongside the TUC, Unite has long campaigned for a maximum working temperature, which it continues to press for, explained Unite national health and safety advisor Rob Miguel.
“Unite is pressing for a maximum temperature for safe working of 27°C for strenuous jobs and 30°C for sedentary jobs, as well as a trigger of 24°C, where action should be taken to reduce temperatures indoors and strict protection measures put in place for outdoor workers,” he said.
25 unite buildingWORKER Autumn 2025
“As the climate changes, it is vital that health and safety law is updated in line with the serious challenges this presents for workers,” he added. “We urge the government to get a move on with this so that there can be no ambiguities in the workplace.
“In the meantime, employers have a legal and moral duty to protect workers working in extreme temperatures,” Rob went on to say.
“Employers should be increasing the frequency and length of rest periods, while also ensuring that workers have free access to cool drinking water at all times.”
• See page 38 ‘‘
[Currently] employers have a legal and moral duty to protect workers working in extreme temperatures. Employers should be increasing the frequency and length of rest periods, while also ensuring workers have free access to cool drinking water at all times
Rob Miguel, Unite health and safety adviser
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