Taking Care in Hot Weather

At the time of writing this article, most of the UK is either experiencing or has just experienced another mini heat wave. For those who have grown up with our typical British weather patterns, this is nothing particularly extraordinary. However, it is not what most people consider to be ideal working conditions and it carries risks whether you work inside or out.

As regard what constitutes acceptable working temperatures, the law is gloriously vague. For example, under regulation 7 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the temperature inside workplace buildings, during working hours, must be ‘reasonable’. The regulation has an associated Approved Code of Practice that clarifies the matter by stating, “all ‘reasonable’ steps should be taken to achieve a comfortable temperature”. But what is meant by ‘reasonable’ and ‘comfortable’? There are other statements, along the same lines but equally vague.

However, the Health and Safety at Work Act offers something a little more tangible when it states, “the employer must provide a working environment which as far as is reasonably practicable, is safe and without risks to health.”. Although the Act doesn’t make particular mention of temperature, it is certainly included. Consequently, we can state that whatever the temperature and whatever measures are taken to control it, the result must be a workplace that is safe and without risk to health.

The law may be a little vague, but what does it mean in practice to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of employees at work? Beyond that, we want employees to remain safe and healthy even when they are not at work, so what advice should we give them?

Indoor Workers

People working indoors have a broad mix of conditions to cope with, ranging from those who work in ultra modern air conditioned office accommodation to others who are in ancient, perhaps even picturesque, accommodation that offers little or no defence against outside temperatures.

People who particularly need our sympathy are those who work in premises that are hot and humid at the best of times, such as kitchens. High outside temperatures usually make things so much worse and there may appear to be little that can be done to improve the conditions because of the nature of the work being carried out.

The answer in such cases is to ensure adequate ventilation, which means frequent change of air and adequate circulation of the air within the premises. Perhaps additional fans are needed and efficient means for extracting stale air. In the worst cases, it may be necessary to call on the services of a ventilation engineer to solve the problem.

It is in everyone’s interest to address these issues because, apart from the risk to health, people who are working in premises that are too hot and humid will be uncomfortable and less efficient. That in turn is likely to lead to lower productivity and increased risk of accidents.

Outdoor Workers

When temperatures start to rise, office workers may envy those who work outside. However, outdoor workers run major risks from sunburn, sunstroke and heat exhaustion and the risks typically increase for those involved in heavy physical work.

If adequate precautions are not taken, there are further risks with the possibility of rashes, burns or even skin cancer. The people most at risk are those who have fair skins and who don’t tan quickly. Whatever your susceptibility, good sun protection creams may help.

Recommended precautions, however, include frequent and plentiful drinks (clean water being preferable to other types of drink), with regular rest breaks in a cool place. Clothing should be worn to protect from the effects of direct radiation but, for obvious reasons, it should be light and loose fitting to allow body heat to escape easily

Vulnerable Workers

Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of heat than others. A good example is pregnant workers.

The HSE Executive’s Guide on New and Expectant Mothers at Work states, “Pregnant women tolerate heat less well and may more readily faint or be more liable to heat stress. The risk is likely to be reduced after birth but it is not certain how quickly an improvement comes about”

Apart from personal consequences for the mother, breastfeeding may also be impaired by heat dehydration.

Regardless of temperature, employers are required to undertake specific risk assessments for pregnant workers. Typical temperatures in the workplace and the effects of particularly warm spells of weather should be included as part of such assessments

Simple arrangements need to be made to combat the effects of excessive heat, such as ensuring adequate rest provision, along with suitable refreshment facilities.

Precautions

So in general, what should employers do?

The first task is to assess the problem, which doesn’t’ mean merely installing one or two thermometers. People’s comfort depends on a number of factors including humidity, air movement and change, heat sources associated with the work and any protective clothing that has to be worn. It is fair to say that if most people are complaining about the heat, then action needs to be taken regardless of thermometer readings.

Alongside assessing the problem, it is also worth assessing the effectiveness of control measures that are already in place. Is the air conditioning in need of maintenance or repair? Are window blinds broken? Are there sufficient fans and are they strategically placed? Is there an adequate supply of clean drinking water?

Other, less routine, possibilities include examining job design or organisation of the office to move people away from direct heat sources (including windows, for example). Heat gain from windows can also be controlled at little additional cost by applying reflective film.

The next task is to ensure employees know how best to cope with the hot temperatures and, perhaps, relax such things as dress code. Employees should be actively encouraged to take plenty of drinks. Water coolers might encourage people to drink more water rather than other drinks, particularly anything containing caffeine. Outside workers in particular need to be able to recognise the symptoms of heat stress and how to deal with them

If the problem is persistent, it may be appropriate to look at longer term solutions such as installing air conditioning or upgrading an aging system. Even small portable air conditioning units can make a useful contribution.

Although the law is vague when it comes to precise numbers, that doesn’t mean we are without authoritative guidance, which is available from a number of sources. For example, the latest figures for skin cancer in the UK are in excess of 30,000. Not all of these are directly attributable to working outdoors in hot weather but it is certainly a contributory factor.

In terms of maximum temperature, the World Health Organisation recommends 24C (that is 75F). The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers recommends an acceptable temperature range for most types of work as 16C to 23C (that is 61F to 72F). However there are different ideal temperatures suggested for different workplaces such as 20C for offices, 19C for hospital wards, 18C for shops and 16C for warehouses.

The GMB union has done an excellent job in compiling facts and figures. They also report that 1,400 people die each year from skin cancer caused by exposure to too much sun. If you are interested, it might be worth a visit to their website. You can find their address, along with other useful links on our website at www.edp-uk.com.

Given the cold and wet that we have to cope with for most of the year, we should be able to enjoy the occasional heat wave. We are all responsible for each other’s welfare, including employers and employees. So let’s do all we can to keep our cool as well as our safety and health during the hot weather.

Contact EDP HS&E Consultants for all your health, safety and environment needs. We can check your current arrangements and advise you about any changes or improvements you need to make.

To discuss your requirements, without any obligation on your part, please gives us a call on 01744 766000 or complete the Enquiry Form on our website.

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