When is it too hot to work? There is in fact no simple answer. According to the HSE, it depends on the type of work and on the circumstances.
As temperatures rise, employers and employees may understandably wonder whether there is a point at which it becomes too hot to work safely. The answer is not as straightforward as a particular temperature threshold. Instead, employers are expected to assess the risks associated with excessive heat and take reasonably practicable steps to protect workers.
The HSE advises that a reasonable working temperature should be maintained in indoor workplaces. What is reasonable will depend on the nature of the work and the working environment. Someone undertaking physically demanding work, for example, may be affected by heat quite differently from someone carrying out sedentary office work.
High temperatures can lead to discomfort, tiredness and reduced concentration. More serious heat-related problems can also occur, particularly where employees are working hard, exposed to direct sunlight or working in poorly ventilated environments. Employers therefore need to consider how heat could affect the health and safety of their workforce rather than simply waiting for temperatures to become extreme.
There are a number of practical measures that can help. Improving ventilation, providing air conditioning where appropriate, using blinds or other means of reducing direct sunlight and providing access to cool drinking water can all contribute to a more comfortable working environment. Employers may also need to consider whether working arrangements, clothing requirements or rest breaks should be adapted during periods of particularly hot weather.
The risks will vary between workplaces, so a sensible approach is to consider the particular circumstances of the business and its employees. Those who are especially vulnerable to heat may require additional consideration, while physically demanding work may increase the potential for heat-related problems.
The HSE’s guidance emphasises the importance of assessing workplace conditions and taking appropriate action rather than relying on a single temperature figure. In other words, there is no simple answer to the question of when it is “too hot” to work: the focus should be on whether the conditions are creating a risk to people’s health and safety.
Employers seeking advice on how best to provide for their workers during periods of hot weather should consult professional health & safety consultants such as Norwich based Foley & Baugh. We are one of the leading health & safety consultancies in East Anglia. We help businesses take a sensible, proportionate approach to managing workplace health and safety when temperatures rise.
Contact us today on 01493 659026 or email hello@foleyandbaugh.co.uk
