While the prospect of a spot of summer sunshine usually makes for a welcome change here in the UK, once temperatures start to rise to 30 degrees or above, the prospect of continuing with normal working life might well leave many feeling more than a little hot under the collar.
Recent heatwaves in the UK have been indicated by the Met Office to continue in the coming weeks and months, with forecasts estimating record-breaking highs of 39 degrees in some areas, raising the question, is it ever too hot to work?
Although a somewhat rare situation, employers cannot sit back and hope for the best when it comes to rising temperatures in the workplace, and major consideration needs to be given as to just how to ensure the wellbeing of the workforce at times of extreme heat.
But just how can employers alleviate the risks and ensure the safety and efficiency of their teams?
Finding the right temperature
Working in the heat can result in a loss of concentration and increased tiredness, and in more serious cases people can overheat, leading to dizziness, fainting and confusion.
Any of these symptoms can impact productivity, so employers must seek to establish a more comfortable and constructive working environment in which their teams will stay focused and be safe.
It is commonly accepted that the ideal temperature for working is somewhere between 16 and 24 degrees. However, this very much depends on the nature of the work. For example, operatives working outside in direct sunlight while wearing robust PPE will be far more likely to overheat than those who sit in an air-conditioned office.
Maintaining these temperatures will, of course, not always be possible, especially with rising ambient temperatures outside, but failure to adhere to these recommendations could well become a huge health and safety headache.
What does the law say?
Currently, UK Law does not stipulate a maximum temperature whereby it is considered to be too unsafe for workers to continue with their daily duties.
Despite the Trades Union Congress previously recommending that a maximum temperature of 30 degrees should be imposed, both the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Approved Code of Practice to the Workplace Regulations only advise that workplace temperatures remain ‘reasonable’ and/or ‘comfortable’.
Protective regulations
While there is not a legal maximum temperature in the workplace, the matter of employee wellbeing is still very much regulated.
The Code of Practice advises that workers should all be supplied with the appropriate tools to monitor their working temperatures, and that ‘effective and sustainable’ ventilation should be provided. Alongside this, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specifically requests that additional allowances be made to alleviate the increased risk extreme temperatures pose to pregnant women.
With regards to any PPE that may be worn for whatever reason, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 states all equipment must be suitable for the risks and working environment, which means it needs to be warm enough in winter but cool enough in high heat.
Indoor workspaces
To protect those who conduct their work indoors, it is always best to try to keep an eye on not just the temperature inside, but also humidity levels, assessing the impact that any additional internal heat sources might have.
Optimising natural ventilation should be a priority, making space for fans if necessary, while dress codes should be reviewed to make sure employees remain as comfortable as possible. Wherever feasible, people should also be stopped from working directly next to windows as this will allow improved airflow and prevent overexposure to direct sunlight.
Where there is limited ventilation, preventing dehydration should be a main concern. This could mean offering increased comfort breaks, the provision of air-conditioned breakout areas, or the supply of bottled, chilled water.
Because high temperatures can impact concentration, it might also be prevalent to consider introducing shorter workdays until conditions become more manageable.
Keeping cool
Most businesses will have protocols for how they operate during snowfall or in low temperatures, but it is no less crucial to have the right procedures in place to tackle soaring temperatures too.
Safeguarding the wellbeing of staff is necessary not only for productivity but also for preserving staff morale. If there are workplace policies that dictate expectations for dress codes or working hours then it is advisable to adopt a sympathetic approach to lifting restrictions.
While extreme temperatures are still comparatively uncommon in the UK, there is still no excuse to not look after your workforce properly when they do hit. Planning ahead properly for such situations should ensure that everyone can still make the most of the sun when it shines.
- Tina Chander is the head of employment law at Midlands law firm, Wright Hassall.